麻豆社

Lake Sihwa in South Korea is home to the world鈥檚 largest operating tidal power station, using the tides to generate enough power for a city of half a million people. This regular rise and fall of the seas is more predictable than sunny or windy weather and can be forecast years in advance.

Nine thousand miles away in Northern Ireland is Strangford Lough. A narrow inlet leading to the mighty Atlantic Ocean means it鈥檚 one of the world鈥檚 best sites for harnessing tidal energy. The fast and strong currents have led to the world鈥檚 first commercial-scale tidal energy power station being built here. But now that鈥檚 being decommissioned.

The technology for harnessing tidal energy has been around for more than half a century and the potential to create energy from the sea is huge. Yet tidal power only accounts for a tiny proportion of the global renewable energy mix. Presenter Graihagh Jackson finds out what鈥檚 holding tidal power back.

Thanks to our contributors:
R茅mi Gruet, CEO of Ocean Energy Europe
Dr Carwyn Frost, Lecturer at Queen鈥檚 University Belfast
Choi Jae-baek, Senior Manager of K-water
Email: theclimatequestion@bbc.com
Presenter: Graihagh Jackson
Reporters: 麻豆社鈥檚 Jordan Dunbar in Norther Ireland and freelance journalist Malene Jensen in South Korea
Producer: Ben Cooper
Researcher: Octavia Woodward and Shorouk Elkobrosi
Editor: Alex Lewis
Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell