Tidal energy harnesses the power of rising and falling tides using two main methods: tidal barrages and tidal current turbines. Tidal barrages are dams built across estuaries that generate power as tides flow in and out, while tidal current turbines extract energy directly from tidal currents. The largest tidal barrage is located on the Rance River in France and has been operating since 1967, while the European Marine Energy Centre in Scotland tests full-scale tidal current turbines. Both technologies have benefits like reliability but also challenges like high costs and potential environmental impacts that require further study.