You would think tidal basin energy would be a natural fit for an island nation like Japan.
As far as I know, tidal energy is not used anywhere to any large extent. South Korea reportedly has the world’s largest tidal power plant at Sihwa Lake, producing as much as 254 MW.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sihwa_Lake_Tidal_Power_Station…
But in 2020, tidal energy only produced 457 GWh in South Korea. Out of the total generation of 590,000 GWh or so, the tidal power plant produces a very small percentage of the whole.
https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-browser?country…
France has a similarly sized tidal power plant, but it too, only produces a very small percentage of the country’s total generation.
Canada’s Bay of Fundy, between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia has great potential, since there is a huge difference between high and low tides. But they have not been able to get a large system in place to take advantage. The ocean marine environment is not kind to mechanical systems with metallic components.
- Pete