waves as a renewable energy souce

[WesleyT]

AS THE PRICE OF A BARREL OF OIL continues to surge and oil traders eye possible disruptions in production from hurricane Katrina, scientists are turning to the ocean as a possible source of alternative energy.

Many forms of renewable energy have been contemplated, and of course solar and wind power plants are already in use. But so far, only a small fraction of the world's energy production comes from renewable resources.

President George W. Bush has talked of a hydrogen economy, in which abundant energy would be extracted from water and the tailpipes of cars would be clean. But extracting hydrogen from water requires energy -- fossil fuels or nuclear power, for example. Many scientists say technology will never allow the extraction of a enough hydrogen to make up for the energy needed to do the extracting.

Scientists have even proposed giant space projects to capture solar energy above the clouds and beam it back to Earth. Those proposals have not come close to getting off the ground, however.

High stakes

Meanwhile, scientists agree that the world will eventually have to rely on something besides oil. Just when the crude will stop bubbling is a matter of huge debate. One scientists says the slow decline will begin later this year. If the wells go truly dry later in this century, as some experts figure, the major nations of an unprepared world might be drawn into all-out war.

"The oil will run out," says Caltech physicist David Goodstein. "The only question is when."

The strain is already building. The United States now imports nearly 60 percent of the oil it uses. China's oil consumption is expected to grow 7.5 percent per year, and India?s by 5.5 percent, according to the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security.

But so far, no renewable resource has been developed to the point that it could replace oil.

The new wave

The potential for harnessing the power of waves has drawn serious study by Oregon State University, federal and state agencies, and communities along the Oregon Coast.

"There's a real good chance that Oregon could turn into kind of the focal point in the United States for wave energy development and I think that would be a boon to the economy,'' said Gary Cockrum, spokesman for the Central Lincoln People's Utility District.

Groups hoping to begin work on experimental technology are considering the International Paper mill site in Gardiner.

"We have a lot of momentum going for it, I think, but we still have to work out lot of details,'' said Alan Wallace, Oregon State University professor of electrical engineering.

The plan is to take over the site to make it a showcase for a "renewable ocean extraction system,'' he said.

Tremendous potential

Last Friday at the Port of Umpqua office in Reedsport, officials from Oregon Department of Energy, Oregon State University, Electrical Power Research Institute and other federal and state officials gathered to explain the fledgling project to more than 100 southern Oregon Coast residents.

"There is tremendous potential in the oceans to supply energy for the world,'' Annette von Jouanne, an Oregon State electrical engineering professor told the crowd. "A 10-square-mile wave power plant could supply the entire state of Oregon.''

The electric institute and the Bonneville Power Administration identified the Gardiner site as the ideal place for the project in their feasibility study.

The former mill has an outflow pipe already in place -- a structure that could reduce the cost of building a power plant. Electricity from the Gardiner site could be transmitted to other stations up and down the coast.

The biggest obstacle

Money is the biggest obstacle. It will take about $5 million to complete the project's initial phases. But the recently passed federal energy bill could reduce much of that burden.

U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., who is visiting the southern Coast this week, called the project "intriguing.'' He added: "I would definitely be supportive.''

At first, he was skeptical that a system could function along the Pacific Northwest Coast, famous for its rough seas. But he said he's seen a similar system operate successfully off the coast of Scotland.

How much energy could be generated from the water is still unclear, but those involved with the project say the possibilities could be limitless.

"I read something involved with this that said if 0.2 percent of the ocean's energy were harnessed, it could produce enough energy to power the entire world,'' added Cockrum, the utility district spokesman.

On Friday, oil prices held above $67 a barrel as forecasters said hurricane Katrina would move out into the Gulf, where oil platforms have already experienced disruptions from other storms this year.

source: http://www.livescience.com/technology/ap_0...ave_energy.html

[Hupp]

cool beans

[mntbikeracer1]

I have seen so many ideas like this over the past ten years. When is something going to actually take root. Wind power is too expensive to make it viable. Hopefully they can actually do this at a price that consumers will be willing to pay.

[mattmatik]

They've been talking about doing this in San Francisco for years. Apparantly, a small number of waves that can power generators can produce enough energy to power the city.

The problem is the stupid animal activists. They are worried about fish and other sea life getting stuck in the huge turbines that would be required for the energy creation. It seems like a couple of times a year they make headway on this only to have it set back by these people complaining.

[Shibby]

It can't be that hard to bulid something to stop all them little bits of food and dirt getting in to the generators

Big filters like a fine mesh that won't stop the wave.

If it doesn't go ahead because of protests then they should thing hard what they are stoping.

Kill some fish

OR

hurt the earth alot more.

Hmm i'd kill the fish.

plus also wouldn't the noises make them stay away? I'd also start saying

Ok get started buliding us some wind turbines. Your going to powerer them with your own lungs ok, We don't want any construction men and birds getting hurt.

We go with wave turbines but we are going to place them in a big swimming pool So you bastards have got to make waves. Well we don't want to hurt some fish, much more fun hurting YOU

[adamcsays]

Yeah, I love hearing about things like this, but I'd like to hear more about REAL CHANGES that are happening. I guess I'm not inventing anything myself, but I'd love to see more progress. It seems as if it's never more than talk.

[mntbikeracer1]

They've been talking about doing this in San Francisco for years. Apparantly, a small number of waves that can power generators can produce enough energy to power the city.

The problem is the stupid animal activists. They are worried about fish and other sea life getting stuck in the huge turbines that would be required for the energy creation. It seems like a couple of times a year they make headway on this only to have it set back by these people complaining.

586451423[/snapback]

I find this quite funny also the same hippies that want this type of technology for a greener earth can also readily find ways that an animal can get harmed. Hilarious.

[mattmatik]

It can't be that hard to bulid something to stop all them little bits of food and dirt getting in to the generators

Big filters like a fine mesh that won't stop the wave.

If it doesn't go ahead because of protests then they should thing hard what they are stoping.

Kill some fish

OR

hurt the earth alot more.

Hmm i'd kill the fish.

plus also wouldn't the noises make them stay away?

586451451[/snapback]

That's the thing. People come up with EVERY reason/suggestion as to why it isn't practical to do.

But yeah, it's been suggested to have filters or something to keep it environment-safe but there's also the noise issue you brought up, the cost factors that WesleyT posted in that article, and also the infringment on an environment that is, in reality, unknown. The impacts of doing something like this can either be greatly rewarding or catastrophic. It definitely should be studied further and taken seriously. I support it 100% ever since I first heard about it. It's alot like solar power only more reliable.

I think what's going to happen in the future is we decide to start using natural resources and other natural phenomena to our advantage when it's too late. And the people who study these things and suggest them get frowned upon until something like an oil shortage approaches. Really stupid, if you ask me.

[mntbikeracer1]

Turbines in damns have it why can't the ocean or are ocean fish more important

[WesleyT]

They've been talking about doing this in San Francisco for years. Apparantly, a small number of waves that can power generators can produce enough energy to power the city.

The problem is the stupid animal activists. They are worried about fish and other sea life getting stuck in the huge turbines that would be required for the energy creation. It seems like a couple of times a year they make headway on this only to have it set back by these people complaining.

586451423[/snapback]

i'm an animal activist but i completely support this, dams have a much more negative impact

its probebly greenpeace thats complaining they are full of bull**** lol

[Nexus]

Some awesome idea's. But unfortunately all these idea's and many more have been tossed around for decades with limited application. The precedent that will put these ideas into action is a few years prior to the fossil fuels being completely consumed. There is always procrastination then all of a sudden it's an emergency when its needed the most.