Ocean Current Energy Holds Potential
Ocean current energy, a form of hydrokinetics, is one of the often-overlooked flavors of renewables, one that holds a great deal of potential. Low hanging fruit here, it appears, are the large and predictable currents that flow with very little variability over time. The Gulf Stream off the eastern seaboard of the United States comes immediately to mind to us Americans, as it’s what makes the Atlantic warm and enjoyable for summer vacations as far north as the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Lesser known to most of us here in the U.S. is the Mozambique Current in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, between Mozambique and Madagascar.
When I’m in the studio next week, I plan to shoot a short video that discusses various attempts to harness that energy in a cost-effective, ecologically safe manner. I’ve come across the developer of a device that is anchored (not moored) to the ocean floor, and thus can move around within the limits of its tether to find the region of maximum current. I’d like to see this guy succeed; his has one of the best ideas in hydrokinetics I’ve come across to date. If you’re interested, please let me know and I’ll put you in touch.
Absolutely Craig. The ocean and its massive movements could very easily replace all forms of energy on this planet, and could easily be doubled every year for 100 years if we wanted. This would make oil at $5 a barrel way too expensive. I had not even considered this form of energy you write about today, I would like very much to be in contact with this project!
That’s comforting to know, that means the in 100 years time, based on current power demand of about 15TW, we could be harvesting about 1.9 x 10^40 Watts of power, or to put it another way about 52 trillion times the output of the Sun, I don’t think so.Either the maths or the staement is wrong.
Any way what is important is not how much energy is in the oceans but how and how much is put in by solar and geothermal processes and what percentage of this we can take out without messing up the currents and eco-balance of the oceans. I would wager it’s not as much as one might first think.
Another promising energy source from the oceans is the huge potential of hydrothermal vents. National Geographic estimates the worldwide energy potential of known (most are yet to be discovered) vents at 17,000GW. See http://www.marshallhydrothermal.com
Good Day Craig, Thank you so much for your article. Have been promoting, written articles to papers etc. for years.
Our Mozambique current avareges 15 knots year round and can, when implemented properly light up the whole of Africa. Your Gulf Tream, one of the fatest in the world averages between 25 to 30 knots, let alone the Australia,s East Coast.
Have all the basic design and anchorage data available, from many years of research and developement.
The main drawback with the project is enviromental eye sore if neer the coast and a hazerd to shipping. Pls. put me into contact with the gentelman you mentioned above.