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We're familiar with solar power, but how often do we consider lunar power to be a serious alternative for our energy? Well the answer is not often enough, until now. According to an article in New Scientist, a British Company is poised to set up a test pair of tidal turbines off the coast of Ireland later this year.

Tidal power has gained an unnecessarily bad rap due to concerns for ecosystem and wildlife safety associated with current tidal generators. Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying the concerns are invalid, quite the opposite, in fact.

The current tidal power generators in operation use a barrage, or lagoon system. Essentially a damn across a tidal estuary that lets tide flow in, and then catches the power created as it flows back out. The problem with this is many-fold. Firstly, fish movement in and out of the estuary is restricted, and fish can be caught in the turbines that catch the tidal power. Next, the altered flow in and out of the lagoon can affect everything from bacteria levels to salinity. All in all, not a pretty picture, but I'm still willing to bet that there is less environmental damage from this system than from mining coal (especially when you account for occurrences like the recent collapse in Utah), shipping it and burning it for the same amount of power.

Newer systems though, like the one that will be installed off the coast of Northern Ireland later this year, use a different method for gathering tidal power. The systems don't block or alter ocean currents, but instead strategically place turbines in their paths. Picture a wind farm under the sea. These newer systems don't cause dramatic ecosystem alterations like the older ones and, according to the manufacturers, the turbines don't turn quickly enough to harm wildlife.

Tidal power is more reliable than wind or solar and, according to experts it could provide up to 20% of Britain's power if harnessed correctly.

Learn more about this author, Krista White.
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