As the
battle rages on in the micro technology world another battle is raging in
the world of clean energy. Over the years countries have depended on various
forms of energy. There is the ever reliable energy from water (Hydroelectric dams) then gas/crude oil
through the Gas Turbine with solar energy, wind energy and also nuclear and coal energy following. Environmentalist like to hear
close to nothing on the latter two energy sources listed. They frown on the environmental impact and hazards their byproducts pose.. but to some
engineers, politicians, corporate organizations the power these energy sources produce is much more important to
them than the byproducts. Efforts have been made to make such energy sources clean
with some great success but 100% is always better than 70% clean.
Leading the
way for the clean energy campaign is solar energy and wind energy. We all know the power of the sun and how much
energy it can produce (www.yourturn.ca/solar/solar-power/how-much-power-does-the-sun-give-us/ ) and we have also heard of the all the exciting
capabilities of wind power. There are other forms of renewable energy making
head way in energy sector with particular reference to tidal wave energy.
Harnessing tidal wave energy is one nasty
business basically due to rough impact of sea water on metal and also the
relative unpredictable nature of sea waves. Sad to note that quiet recently big
players in the energy industry Siemens pulled out of this sector after it
had acquired Bristol-based tidal turbine Development Company in 2010 citing that the industry wasn’t growing as
fast as it expected(http://renews.biz/79710/siemens-abandons-ocean-energy/ ).. that sucks..
This article from Eco Watch (tidal
wave energy race ) throws more light on the capabilities and problems major
players in the industry are facing. It also states the steps EU is taking to
stimulate interest in tidal wave energy. In
2014 the EU launched what it called its Blue
Energy Action plan to finance and encourage development and Africa should be LEARNING something from this. I
am glad to say that there has been positive news for wave energy
technology particularly the one currently steadily progressing in Australia known as the Carnegie
Wave project.
In
2012, the Ocean Renewable Energy report found that near shore wave energy
between Geraldton and Tasmania is around 1300 terawatt hours (TW h) per year.
This is nearly five times Australia’s total energy demand. A Carnegie Wave
Energy project is aimed to harness some of that energy to provide electricity
and desalinated water to coastal areas. "Utterly impressive" is my take on this
technology because this tech could “kill two birds with one stone” with just a
push of a button. Imagine a plant that can produce fresh water at one point and
then electricity at another...or BOTH!!.. with all the energy coming from sea waves.
How
does wave energy work?
''Ocean waves
are movement of energy through water. Water molecules do not travel with waves
but oscillate in a circular motion. You may notice this when swimming in the
sea beyond the wave break: you bob up and down as waves pass through the water.
Wave energy
converters use wave movement to produce energy that powers electrical turbines.
Unlike tidal energy, which is diurnal (daily), waves occur at predictable
intervals of around 10 seconds. Because wave energy is so regular it can be
relied upon 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
North
Fremantle wave energy project uses an innovative form of wave converter
technology named CETO after the Greek marine goddess of stormy seas. Ceto was
also the mother of Medusa, a gorgon who had snakes for hair and could turn
people to stone with a single, withering glance.
NOW THAT’S
INNOVATION!'' (water
wave energy pdf ). They plan to supply freshwater to a Naval base in Australia through a desalination process.
Thumbs up to this project and hope they make great strides in the coming future. Visit their site
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UPDATE:
NYTimes_Catching_Waves_and_Turning_them_into_Electricity ..Enjoy!!
