托福听力

🎧 听力原文

Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in an environmental science class. Professor: So, we've been discussing renewable energy sources, and today I want to focus on a lesser-known but promising technology: tidal energy. Unlike solar or wind, tidal energy is highly predictable because it depends on the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun, which we can calculate accurately years in advance. However, there are significant challenges. First, tidal power plants require specific coastal geography, like narrow bays or estuaries, where the tidal range is large. This limits suitable locations. Second, the equipment must withstand harsh marine conditions, including saltwater corrosion and strong currents, which drives up maintenance costs. Despite these drawbacks, some countries, like the UK and South Korea, have invested in tidal barrages and turbines. Interestingly, recent research suggests that underwater turbines, similar to wind turbines but placed on the seafloor, might be less environmentally disruptive than barrages, which can block fish migration. So, while tidal energy isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, it could play a key role in a diversified energy portfolio. Now, who can tell me one advantage of tidal energy over wind or solar?