Eli5: How do hydroelectric power plants in the ocean not violate the law of conservation of energy?

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As far as I understand, turbines that are powered by ocean tides don’t take energy out of the ocean. Since the tides carry on endlessly regardless of if there is a turbine, how is hydroelectric power not an infinite energy source?

In: Physics

6 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

So some people are skirting around the answer you’re looking for.

Tidal energy is created by the movement of the earth and moon etc (and waves from wind which is caused by the sun). And yes, the tidal energy machine DOES take energy from the system. And look at a wave powered harnesser if you get a chance, they’re nuts, they leave the sea still as heck behind them. It sounds daft but yes, the tides moving is taking kinetic energy from the moon via gravity etc.

We call it renewable because we are on about time frames so vast that it doesn’t make sense to talk about it as being depleted. The sun will boil the seas before it’s an issue. In the same vein, wind and solar aren’t eternal, but they’re renewable because they’re just not going to stop being sources until the planet dies

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