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Wave Power....

  • 09-06-2008 3:36pm
    #1
    Annatar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 152 ✭✭


    perhaps its already done....
    pipes into the sea, rising up like chimneys or if based on the shoreline horizontal*.
    In said chimney multiple rotors along the lines of these

    http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/13/superpowerful-small-wind-turbines-light-up-the-night/

    Wave motion is alot more constant than wind.


    Any drawback for this?


    *as long as the turbine is out of the water, the pipes could even be
    subterranean. No eyesore for NIMBY's


Comments

  • #2
    sarahirl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 119 ✭✭sarahirl


    as far as i know the drawbacks are the actual production of the machinery (resources, emissions) - usual qualms with development, nothing toxic or anything - plus the installation would disturb marine life in the area if rooted to the sea bed. also, even though they have the possibility to move the instruments, there is a possibility of them in high storms becoming dislodged and wreaking havoc. plus they'll interfere with shipping routes if placed in existing shipping routes. that's all i can think up of n they're not reasons to halt the whole process altogether. in scotland they have already started up a testing centre for new technology. ireland has the same if not better wave energy resources and could have become a market leader, but no that would have made too much sense!


  • #3
    Kama
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,027 ✭✭✭Kama


    Love the gadget-link!
    Admittedly I've a bias towards microgeneration, but that seems sweet!

    Wave-tidal seems to be where Irelands comparative advantage should be in energy production. I remember going to a Convergence conference, and 2 guys from Galway (who I'm not sure were the people in the companys linked below) constantly interrupted the pessimistic energy scenarios with

    'But we'll have infinite power and wealth form our tidal power system!'

    Not sure if I think it'll be that easy, but it would definitely imo be the place we should be looking at. Tidal and wave has a advantage in that is a *lot* more predictable than wind; a huge disadvantage of wind is its intermittence.

    Sustainable Energy Ireland have a test-site for wave generation running, so its not being ignored. We have a pretty ideal situation for it in Ireland, so hopefully it'll take off...Its attracting a lot of attention from venture capital, the hope is its cost-efficient and pays off.

    http://www.smartplanet.com/news/business/10000957/ireland-eyes-the-power-of-its-rough-seas.htm
    is a good writeup of the current state of the industry in this country.

    Another *very* interesting tech on these lines is Tidal Lagoons.
    This one is in Swansea. It has the large plus of being regular, and lacks the engineering difficulties of constructing and, critically, maintaining an off-coast generation set-up.


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