Tides: Overview
The sea's daily breathing, powered by the Moon
The sea's daily breathing, powered by the Moon What this tile covers The rise and fall of the sea caused by the pull of the Moon and Sun. Share of use <.01% share of world energy supply (2024)Share of world total energy supply, 2024 (latest year where noted). Denominator is the Energy Institute Statistical Review 2025 total of 592.2 EJ (physical energy content method). Flows EI omits (traditional biomass via WBA, solar and geothermal heat, food energy) are set against the same 592.2 EJ, so shares sum to slightly more than 100%. La Rance and Sihwa barrages give about 1.1 TWh a year (0.004 EJ) of 592.2 EJ (calculated); tidal-stream output adds only about 10 GWh. Source: Tidal Energy: Technology Brief, IRENA.
Key facts
| Origin | Gravitational / orbital |
| Renewable | Yes |
Included from the reference tables
- Tidal range
- Tidal stream
Also in Earth, gravity and atoms
Geo Earth's heatU UraniumD Fusion fuelsnH2 Natural hydrogenExplore paths from here
More on this tile in the tabs above: how energy resides, abundance, fluctuation in time, across the earth, impact on nature.