Global potential
Tidal plants for the twenty-first century

The technical solutions analysed are probably the most suitable for most of the world's major sites, including :

• the S3 basin operating in both directions, using orthogonal turbines and associated with storage ;

• the VHALS solution, electrically combining two basins.

The use of large reinforced concrete caissons for factories and dikes is more economical, and makes it possible to equip sites far from industrialized areas.

Worldwide kWh costs for tidal power plants are of the same order as those for the large-scale S3 basin or VHALS solution sites of 5 to 10 GW mentioned above. The low cost of long-distance electricity transmission (around e10 per MWh over 1,000 km) makes it possible to use off-center production sites, which can also produce hydrogen....