Off Oregon’s coast, researchers hope to pump electricity from surf to turf
October 14, 2006
Off Oregon’s coast, researchers hope to pump electricity from surf to turf
By Peter N. Spotts
NEWPORT, ORE. – Along Oregon’s postcard coast, generations have tapped the ocean for its rich fisheries. Now, a new generation wants to tap it for electricity.
The goal is to wrest kilowatts from the Pacific Ocean waves by using small floating generators that ride the rolling swells and convert the up-and-down motion into usable volts.
In late July, New Jersey-based Ocean Power Technologies, Inc., filed for a preliminary permit with the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to anchor one of its generating buoys off Gardiner, Ore. Meanwhile, researchers at Oregon State University are working to establish a national wave-energy research and demonstration facility here off Newport.
The efforts highlight a renewed interest in the US for enlisting waves and tides in the quest for renewable energy sources and greater energy independence, specialists say.
Ocean energy is still in its infancy, specialists emphasize, and work remains to be done to make it economical enough to hook to the grid. But smaller, more powerful turbines; advances in marine cables and anchoring techniques; and other developments may allow today’s power-plant designs to avoid some of the technical and environmental hurdles that plagued ocean-power proposals in the 1970s and ’80s, they add. Entire story
Popularity: 2% [?]
Do you need assistance with your electrical wiring project? Please visit my DIY Electrical Wiring Help from a Master Electrician page. Where I provide electrical wiring tips, expert electrical advice, answers to your electrical questions and electrical consulting & design services over the phone, via instant messenger or via email.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed or receive updates via email
Similar Posts:
Comments
Do you have a question or idea to add to this post? Feel free to post it below. Due to a large backlog and an overwhelming response, it takes approximately 30 days to receive an answer to your electrical question for free. Simply subscribe to this blog (use one of the subscription methods listed in the top right corner of this page) and your answer will be listed in a new blog post in the near future.
To receive an immediate answer (in less than 24 hours) please visit my DIY Electrical Wiring Help from a Master Electrician page.