Wave power

One technology we don't hear much about is wave power (at least not here in the US). EveWasRight writes about a recent study that points out the potential of harnessing the energy of the waves.

Wave energy systems place objects on the water’s surface that generate energy by rising and falling with the waves. The wave energy in turn moves a buoy or cylinder up and down, which turns a generator that sends the electricity through an undersea cable to a power station on the shore.

...The potential energy to be captured from ocean waves could surpass the other forms of renewable energy such as solar, wind, or hydropower, according to a recent study by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), a research group funded by hundreds of utilities.

According to a report released in January, 2005, the total wave power along the coastlines of the U.S. is approximately 2,100 terrawatt hours per year, nearly as much as all of the electricity produced by coal and roughly 10 times the total energy produced by all of the country’s hydroelectric plants.

The study's author says that wave power compares favorably with other energy sources.

Wave energy systems can capture the same amount of energy using smaller and less expensive equipment than wind or solar systems, according to Roger Bedard of EPRI, who authored the study.

Wave energy “is among the most environmentally benign technologies,” and is less visible than off shore wind farms, according to Bedard. He says wave energy conversion devices have a smaller footprint than offshore wind farms and interfere less with marine life movements.

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Comments

[Q Hilpert]

I think the wave power figures works out to about 5,000 horse power per mile of tital coast line. About right I think. It is vital to remember that the energy your taking out of the waves is the amount the wave or tide falls. If your tide is 10 feet then you get the energy of water falling 10 feet. So to get all that power your talking about your talking about a lot of water. This means the entire cost line will be utilized. For six hours you will be filling a really big pond and the next six hours you'll be emptying it. When the author says small foot print I think he is talking about the small foot print a 10 foot wall makes on the ground maybe about 6 feet wide(assuming a tide of 8 feet) stretching all along the coast line. Simple and non damaging to the enviorment?? Maybe so but say goodbye to the beach as we know it.

[Hap Happy]

do you know of anybody doing wave power generator research & development in the pacific northwest (Washington state or British Columbia)?
I'm working on wave power in Brisbane Australia & plan to spend at least a spring & summer in that most beautiful part of the world helping to pioneer some great wave technology

[Hap Happy]

do you know of anybody doing wave power generator research & development in the pacific northwest (Washington state or British Columbia)?
I'm working on wave power in Brisbane Australia & plan to spend at least a spring & summer in that most beautiful part of the world helping to pioneer some great wave technology

[Michael]

interestin!!