U.S. GETTING INTO WAVE ENERGY

A little-mentioned exciting aspect of wave energy is that it can be a self-powering water desalination system while it generates emission-free, predictable, renewable power. Another is that much of the industry that supports wave-tide-current turbines also supports wind turbines, making the two energies synergistic.

Projects across the nation seek to harness wave energy
Michelle Lee, August 17, 2007 (The Providence Journal via Scripps News)

WHO
Malcolm Spaulding, professor of ocean engineering, University of Rhode Island/Graduate School of Oceanography; Verdant Power; Oceanlinx (John Bell, CFO); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

The amount of potential wave energy is almost -- ready? -- unfathomable. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
Wave energy is more than the wave of the future. Ongoing research and new ocean tests approved by FERC are bringing the energy source along.

WHEN
Wave energy viability is, if not eminent, certainly foreseeable.

WHERE
- Verdant Power is Canadian-American and has a test project in New York City’s East River. Oceanlinx is Australian and has a test project off Port Kembla, Australia.
- Other test projects: Vineyard Sound in Massachusetts, the Atlantic coast of Florida, San Francisco Bay, Washington’s Puget Sound and waterways along Alaska, Maine and Oregon, Hawaii and the UK.

WHY
- Spaulding’s research is the study of the oscillations on waves of a triangular buoy of PVC pipes containing magnetic generators. The movement generates electricity which is captured and measured. The model generates 0.2 watts from big waves in the experimental wave tank. A full-scale model (32.8-foot pipes) will generate much more.
- FERC has approved 45 U.S. test sites and 15 are pending. 6 are in Long Island Sound.
- A 10-turbine project from Oceanlinx off Long Island Sound’s Point Judith & Block Island would cost $44 million and each turbine would generate 1.5 megawatts of electricity. (NewEnergyNews: Conversion factors vary. This article says 1 megawatt = 900 homes. Other articles say a megawatt == 250 or 300 homes.)

The type of Verdant turbine now placed in the East River of NYC.

QUOTES
- Spaulding: "The idea is to get the design so the more 'heave' we get, the better…"
- Bell: "There is no fuel cost in that the wave activity is there…It's low visual impact. In our experience, so far, these devices are attractive to marine life. There's no noise generated. There are no moving parts about it."