Tidal energy harnesses the natural rise and fall of ocean tides to generate electricity through various technologies. Tidal barrages utilize dams and turbines to capture the potential energy from changing water levels between high and low tides. Tidal fences and tidal turbines operate similarly to wind turbines, using the kinetic energy of fast ocean currents to turn turbine blades connected to generators. While tidal mills used tides centuries ago, modern attempts to harvest tidal power have focused on tidal barrages and turbines that directly convert tidal energy into electricity.