Tidal energy fills a niche

Verdant Power deployed 3 tidal power turbines into the East River as part of the first licensed tidal power array in the United States. The hydrokinetic generators will produce about a megawatt of power for the Roosevelt Island grid, enough to supply about 800 homes. But this success highlights the slow pace of tidal power's development. Verdant has been at this project since 2002. Tidal power may not be the sole source of generating capacity in future cities, where it will never likely compete with wind and solar, but it is likely to find a niche in places where energy costs remain high.