Abstract
In some coastal areas, tidal ranges represent an important energy potential. This energy is harnessed through tidal power plants (TPPs), which cause environmental impacts during the construction and operation phases. The objective is to propose an environmental impact potential (EIP) index to be used as a tool to select suitable areas for the installation of TPPs. The EIP is based on a combination of geographic information systems and multicriteria analysis, which take into account the degrees of vulnerability of the following environmental variables: land use, geomorphology, geology, slope, pedology and vegetation. The results showed that the EIP values in most areas of the Amazon region coast decrease from north to south, and 15% of the areas had low EIP values because they are farther from estuaries, which are technically better for the implementation of TPPs. In the rest of the region, 82% of the areas have average EIP values, and 3% have high EIP values. These areas are near the mouth and are more susceptible to erosion and flooding. In this case, the environmental impact is greater in relation to those of areas with the greatest river influence. Thus, from an environmental point of view, the EIP index has proven to be a preliminary and simple application assessment tool for choosing the best area for TPP installation for the sustainable use of natural resources.