Momentum Building for Tapping the Power of the Oceans

June 20, 2007 – Vol.12 No.13

MOMENTUM BUILDING FOR TAPPING THE POWER OF THE OCEANS.

Despite the problems of conventional hydroelectric power (flooding of land, greenhouse gases in some situations) the kinetic energy in flowing, moving water is arguably one of the world’s greatest untapped energy sources.

The world’s constantly moving oceans cover two-thirds of the planet. All bodies of water cover about three-quarters. Water is more than 800 times denser than air, meaning far smaller equipment should be needed for the same power output than another popular kinetic energy capturing device - the wind turbine.

Yet like conventional hydroelectric power there are problems thus challenges that need to met.

Water, particularly salt water, is surprisingly harsh. Corrosion is a problem. Storms, obviously, could raise havoc with ocean energy devices. Aquatic life - salt and fresh water, plant and animal - can be killed or injured. Life in water, too, can clog equipment and hamper power generating performance - think barnacles and sea weed clinging to ocean energy devices. Then there are interactions with human activities - fishing for example.

Still, as we know, the planet is mostly covered by powerful, ever-moving water. That simple fact is the basis for new momentum in the pursuit of tapping water for clean power. The major hurdle is finding the right technology - or technologies - that might work under the adverse conditions.

--- Finavera Renewables has announced that construction has begun on the second generation of its wave energy converter, the AquaBuOY 2.0

Being built at Oregon Iron Works in Portland, Oregon, the device will be tested, too, off the state’s coast. AquaBuOY harnesses the vertical kinetic energy of waves to pump pressurized sea water through a turbine to generate electricity. Power is transmitted to shore via an undersea cable. Testing of the new device should begin later this year.

--- Lawmakers in Oregon, too, are recognizing the power potential of moving water. According to the latest Energy and Climate Change Law Alert from Stoel Rives Attorneys at Law, the legislature of state has taken a series of steps to embrace wave energy.

The Oregon Senate has added “ocean wave energy” to the list of renewable energy resources that are eligible for tax incentives. The Oregon House exempted some wave energy projects from certain regulations.

Further wave, tidal, and ocean thermal energy are included in as qualifying renewable energy sources in the state’s Renewable Energy Act (At least 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025)

And, upcoming legislation may further bolster ocean energy in the state. The legislature is set to vote on the Oregon Innovation Council's 2007 Innovation Plan which could create funding for wave energy technologies.

--- Washington, DC is catching the ocean energy wave as well. House of Representatives has approved the Marine Renewable Energy Research and Technology Act that authorizes $200 million ($50 million for 4 years) for the Department of Energy (DOE) to research ocean energy.

--- The State of Mississippi may get its first-ever water energy projects. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued preliminary permits for four projects that would be owned and operated by Hydro Green Energy.

The projects would use Hydro Green’s proprietary hydrokinetic energy technology at existing US Corp of Engineers’ dams to generate a combined 100 megawatts of power.

Hydro Green’s technology generates power from moving water without having to construct dams, impoundments or conduits. The technology can be deployed in rivers, tidal areas and in the flowing currents of the ocean.

--- In Europe ocean energy research is well underway. The latest news comes from Northern Ireland where its Strangford Lough marine nature preserve is soon to be the home of the world’s largest tidal current device. As Phase 2 of a three step process to commercialize full scale tidal energy farms, Marine Current Turbines will install a 1.2 megawatt device at the site beginning in August.

The SeaGen turbine has two propeller-like rotors that turn no faster than 20 rpm, have the ability to shed a buildup of seaweed or grasses and can be raised out of the water for maintenance.

The company. too, has just announced that it has received a near $15 million (GBP 7.5 million) investment from Triodos Bank, the ethical savings and investment bank. The investment in Marine Current Turbines is Triodos’ first investment in ocean energy.

Visit Stoel Rives at http://www.stoel.com/ Finavera Renewables http://www.finavera.com/ Hydro Green at http://www.hgenergy.com/ Marine Current Turbines at http://www.marineturbines.com/