According to a recent article in ABC news agency’s website, the Australian energy authorities are taking a serious look at a one thousand kilometer long strip of coastline between West Australia and Tasmania as a possible source of wave energy. Just to brush up, wave energy refers to the energy generated by harnessing the power of waves as the rise and crash along a coastline. It has been identified as one of the possible sources of renewable clean energy and has been tried out at several locations around the world where the geography allows wave energy to be harnessed efficiently.
The report says that recently the World Energy Council marked the said length of Australian coastline as one of the best place for tapping the energy of waves. In fact, the experts are of the opinion that just 10% percent of the available wave energy will be sufficient to provide the targeted 20% of Australian national energy production. It remains to be seen if the business community will be looking at such projects positively and provide the capital required to see such ambitious project through from the minds of researchers to the sandy beaches.
waves: a potential source of clean energy
One promising device for harnessing wave energy called ‘iwave’ is being tested by an Indian researcher and works on the following principle (as described at http://waveenergy.nualgi.com/)
It is a floating device tethered with chains to piles driven to ocean bottom. The wave action raises the heavy partially buoyant piston that drives the overhead crankshaft by half turn. The receding wave drops the piston completing the balance half turn. One revolution is obtained for every wave. Using gear box and generator the current is produced continuously.
The device has been patented and the inventor can be contacted through the above mentioned website.
onebluesphere will surely hope that this and other such plans see the light of day around the world. If you want further information on the subject, check out the following sites:
www.worldenergy.org
http://www.wavesenergy.com/
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