Tidal Energy Potential in the Bay of Bengal: Implications for
Sustainable Development in Bangladesh
The Bay of Bengal, bordered by several South and Southeast Asian countries, is one of the
world’s most dynamic ocean basins and the second-largest water body in the Indian Ocean
after the Arabian Sea. It supports dense coastal populations, major fisheries, and vital
shipping routes while exhibiting strong and predictable semi-diurnal tidal regimes with
average tidal ranges of 2–8 meters and tidal stream speeds exceeding 2 m/sec. These
characteristics make it a viable, predictable, and clean alternative to fossil fuels, presenting
significant opportunities for tidal energy development. Rapid economic growth, rising energy
demand, and heightened climate vulnerability in the region underscore the urgent need for
reliable renewable sources, with tidal energy standing out among marine options due to its
long-term predictability and supply security. This paper briefly reviews the tidal energy
potential across the Bay of Bengal using tidal water-level variations and coastal
geomorphological characteristics, highlighting tidal range–based energy extraction—
particularly through tidal barrage and tidal stream technologies—as a reliable renewable
marine resource. Coastal zones of Bangladesh, eastern India, and Myanmar show notable
promise because of their favorable tidal ranges, estuarine morphology, and shallow
bathymetry. Overall, the study emphasizes tidal energy’s critical role in advancing
sustainable development goals, strengthening the Blue Economy, and enhancing climate
adaptation, while fostering shared regional benefits beyond national boundaries through
collective blue economic growth.
Oceanographic and Tidal Characteristics of the Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal experiences predominantly semi-diurnal tides influenced by lunar forcing,
basin geometry, and large riverine discharge from systems such as the Ganges–Brahmaputra–
Meghna, Mahanadi, Godavari, and Irrawaddy rivers. Average tidal ranges along the northern
and eastern margins generally vary between 2 and 5 meters (up to 8 meters during flood
tides), with localized amplification in estuaries, tidal creeks, and funnel-shaped coastlines.
, These physical characteristics create favorable conditions for both tidal range and tidal
current–based energy extraction across multiple coastal zones.
Tidal Energy Extraction Techniques
Tidal energy can be harnessed using several established technologies depending on local
oceanographic conditions. Tidal barrage systems utilize the potential energy created by
differences between high and low tide water levels and are suitable for estuaries with large
basin areas and narrow inlets. Tidal stream turbines extract kinetic energy from fast-flowing
tidal currents and are less intrusive to natural sediment transport processes. Other approaches
include two-way generation systems, tidal fences, and hybrid lagoon concepts. Careful
technology selection is essential to minimize ecological impacts and ensure compatibility
with regional coastal processes.
Figure 1 Tidal Barrage, Google
Sustainable Development in Bangladesh
The Bay of Bengal, bordered by several South and Southeast Asian countries, is one of the
world’s most dynamic ocean basins and the second-largest water body in the Indian Ocean
after the Arabian Sea. It supports dense coastal populations, major fisheries, and vital
shipping routes while exhibiting strong and predictable semi-diurnal tidal regimes with
average tidal ranges of 2–8 meters and tidal stream speeds exceeding 2 m/sec. These
characteristics make it a viable, predictable, and clean alternative to fossil fuels, presenting
significant opportunities for tidal energy development. Rapid economic growth, rising energy
demand, and heightened climate vulnerability in the region underscore the urgent need for
reliable renewable sources, with tidal energy standing out among marine options due to its
long-term predictability and supply security. This paper briefly reviews the tidal energy
potential across the Bay of Bengal using tidal water-level variations and coastal
geomorphological characteristics, highlighting tidal range–based energy extraction—
particularly through tidal barrage and tidal stream technologies—as a reliable renewable
marine resource. Coastal zones of Bangladesh, eastern India, and Myanmar show notable
promise because of their favorable tidal ranges, estuarine morphology, and shallow
bathymetry. Overall, the study emphasizes tidal energy’s critical role in advancing
sustainable development goals, strengthening the Blue Economy, and enhancing climate
adaptation, while fostering shared regional benefits beyond national boundaries through
collective blue economic growth.
Oceanographic and Tidal Characteristics of the Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal experiences predominantly semi-diurnal tides influenced by lunar forcing,
basin geometry, and large riverine discharge from systems such as the Ganges–Brahmaputra–
Meghna, Mahanadi, Godavari, and Irrawaddy rivers. Average tidal ranges along the northern
and eastern margins generally vary between 2 and 5 meters (up to 8 meters during flood
tides), with localized amplification in estuaries, tidal creeks, and funnel-shaped coastlines.
, These physical characteristics create favorable conditions for both tidal range and tidal
current–based energy extraction across multiple coastal zones.
Tidal Energy Extraction Techniques
Tidal energy can be harnessed using several established technologies depending on local
oceanographic conditions. Tidal barrage systems utilize the potential energy created by
differences between high and low tide water levels and are suitable for estuaries with large
basin areas and narrow inlets. Tidal stream turbines extract kinetic energy from fast-flowing
tidal currents and are less intrusive to natural sediment transport processes. Other approaches
include two-way generation systems, tidal fences, and hybrid lagoon concepts. Careful
technology selection is essential to minimize ecological impacts and ensure compatibility
with regional coastal processes.
Figure 1 Tidal Barrage, Google
