Kislaya Guba: Russia’s Experimental Tidal Power Plant

The Kislaya Guba tidal power plant on the Barents Sea coast is one of Russia's most unusual energy facilities. It is the country's only tidal power station and an uncommon example of using ocean energy under Arctic conditions.

The station began operation in 1968 as an experimental facility designed not only to generate electricity, but also to investigate the feasibility of tidal power in Russia. Its present capacity is approximately 1.7 MW.

The basic principle is straightforward, although implementation is challenging: as tides rise and fall, water passes through turbines to produce electricity. The station itself was also an engineering experiment: its powerhouse was assembled in a dock and floated to the installation site.

The facility also raises environmental questions. According to specialists cited in the original report, water exchange in the bay was restored after commissioning and the hydroelectric units used at the station do not harm fish.