Energy from Tides and Waves

Lots of info about Santa Cruz wave generator (1897) is here:

http://www.sandylydon.com/html/sec.html

from this source:

http://www.outsidelands.org/wave-tidal4.php

When the tide was very low (in the early 1960s) I used to play in a cave used when the tide came in and the machinery was there.  Everything was gone in about the 1940s, but a hole drilled to the surface still blows out, sucks air in, and makes a moaning sound.

The energy density of flowing water is about 1000 times greater than the energy density of wind.

Most of the populations of the world live along seacoasts while continental interiors are more lightly populated.

Most renewable energy investments are in wind or solar power. Why is so little attention given to hydro power? We have these vast pools of energy along our shorelines but we have done very little to tap ocean energy reserves.

Professor Alexander Gorlov has is working on a pilot project to extract energy from the powerful Gulf Stream Current running between Florida and Cuba. If we could tap the energy of that current, we could more than supply the electrical needs of the whole Southeastern U.S. We have the technology to anchor deep water drilling platforms, why not deep water turbines?

San Fransisco is working on a project to tap the Bay tidal currents for power although I haven't heard anything about it for a while. What do you think? Are ocean currents also a viable energy option?

Hello Lisy,

Great to read an interesting discussion. However, I am a strong advocate of solar energy. This is particularly because it is available in adundance to all. I can believe that majority of the population live near seashore. However, the population living in the interiors is no small. Lets, take the example of world's most populated countries - India and China. Both the countries have almost 80% population residing in interior areas. For this reason, I believe, solar energy is the best possible alternate.

Regards,

SolarFastTrack

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timetrvlr 

The energy density of flowing water is about 1000 times greater than the energy density of wind.

 

Most of the populations of the world live along seacoasts while continental interiors are more lightly populated.

 

Most renewable energy investments are in wind or solar power. Why is so little attention given to hydro power? We have these vast pools of energy along our shorelines but we have done very little to tap ocean energy reserves.

 

Professor Alexander Gorlov has is working on a pilot project to extract energy from the powerful Gulf Stream Current running between Florida and Cuba. If we could tap the energy of that current, we could more than supply the electrical needs of the whole Southeastern U.S. We have the technology to anchor deep water drilling platforms, why not deep water turbines?

 

San Fransisco is working on a project to tap the Bay tidal currents for power although I haven't heard anything about it for a while. What do you think? Are ocean currents also a viable energy option?

I think all renewable energy resources have their merits althought I agree more attention should be given to harnessing the powers of the oceans.

A technology that I have recently come to pass is the Pelamis Tidal Wave energy harnessing system. Rather than churn underwater turbines as most people envision when thinking of renewable tidal energy, the pelamis sits atop of the water-long cylinders linked together like logs- and the up and down motion of waves pumps pistons inside of the cylinders to create energy. I thought that was really an ingenious idea.

Also, there is less wear as there are no protruding fins so durability is increased with this technology and less damage during storms.

Joe Ng

www.thegoodbanana.com