Tidal energy: promising projects: La Rance, a successful industrial-scale experiment

In some few special areas of the world, the range of the variation of the sea level due to the tide can be impressive. For centuries man has been harnessing this energy with the operation of tidal mills. At present, the design of tidal power does not present new scientific issues. Nevertheless, additional research and development should be carried out in three fields: interface of the tidal power station output with National Grids and above all a sound assessment of its economic interest; design and implementation of work according to the site; and environmental effects. On November 26, 1966, the La Rance tidal power station was inaugurated after 25 years of design in various fields, and 25 years afterwards it is still the only industrial prototype of a large size tidal power station. Currently several important schemes are also under study throughout the world