[timmaxw]

Yes, tides do naturally dissipate energy. The main source of tidal dissipation is friction between the moving seawater and the seabed. [1]

Current tidal generators work either by inserting a turbine into the moving water; or by a dam that captures the high tide, then releases it through a turbine at low tide. Depending on the exact details, it could slow down the rate at which the current later flows over the seabed, which would reduce the energy dissipated from friction with the seabed. But, there's no guarantee that this would compensate for the energy taken by the tidal power generator.

You could imagine a different type of tidal power generator: covering the seabed with a giant treadmill. As water flows past, it drags the surface of the treadmill, generating power. My guess is this would dissipate less total energy than the natural friction of the seabed does. But, it doesn't sound very practical.

(Anyway, all of this is a moot point. As other commenters have noted, if human energy consumption actually were to grow 2% annually for 1000 years, we'd have way bigger problems than the moon becoming tidally locked.)

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_acceleration#Angular_mom...