Unlike solar and wind power, or geothermal heat pumps, tidal turbines aren't available to the average homeowner, but they certainly seem to have great potential as a source of alternative energy.

According to the Marine Current Turbines (MCT) website:

Although the relentless energy of marine currents has been obvious from the earliest days of seafaring, it is only now that the development of modern offshore engineering capabilities coinciding with the need to find large new renewable energy resources makes this a technically feasible and economically viable possibility.

In addition to being technically feasible and economically viable, MCT claims their technology:

• produces no pollution and has negligible environmental impact

• delivers energy to a predictable timetable

• has the potential to make a major contribution to future energy needs

In a June 6th press release, MCT announced:

Installation of its SeaGen commercial tidal energy system will commence during the week of August 20th in Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough. At 1.2MW capacity, SeaGen will be the world’s largest ever tidal current device by a significant margin, and will generate clean and sustainable electricity for approximately 1000 homes. It is also a world first in being a prototype for commercial technology to be replicated on a large scale over the next few years.

Of course, MCT isn't the only company developing ways to tap into the power of waves and tides. A year ago, Treehugger presented a review of international efforts to dive into the world of wave power that is well worth checking out.

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