Tidal Energy Could Supply Half of Scotland's Power

Some of the fastest-moving tides in the world could meet half of Scotland's power needs.  A new study finds that an island channel called the Pentland Firth has the potential to realistically generate 1.9 gigawatts of power--nearly double the amount noted in previous estimates.

Tidal power would go a long way toward helping Scotland achieve its goal of getting 100 percent of its power from renewable energy sources by 2020.  The new research by engineers at the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh helped pinpoint locations for tidal turbines strung out across the entire width of the waterway off Scotland's northern coast.

Tidal Energy Could Supply Half of Scotland's Power