Wave energy

Wave energy is one of the best ways of harnessing energy from the ocean. There are three kinds of approaches which have been used to harvest wave energy.

• Buoys: are floats that have been developed which can generate energy from the bobbing or pitching motion caused by the waves. The wave move a piston up and down that has a magnet the magnet is surrounded by a copper wire coil. When the magnet moves back and forth in the coil an electric current is automatically generated without the need of a generator with is a plus side. There are both vertical and horizontal types of buoys  the horizontal buoys known as the Pelamis sea snake is a half way under water and you could see the top of it as it floats up and down like an alligator

• Oscillating Water Columns: another way to generating energy is when the column in which the rise and fall of the water or fluid that turn spins an electrical generator mounted at the top of the column.

• Focusing Devices:  is when a channel is used near the shore to the wave energy into an elevate reservoir. Then hydroelectricity is used when the water flows back out the reservoir

Wave has unused amount energy that can power a portion of the world’s everyday electricity. Through estimates vary about how much power waves could contribute to the world consumption, some say it could realistic contribute about 10 percent
Theoretically About 0.2 percent of the energy of the ocean can power the entire planet

Positive side:

water is nature capable of transferring a great deal of kinetic energy as compared to wind energy system

-small waves can produce a great amount of energy
-low profile (blends in) not a big visual distraction
-our planet has mostly ocean so there’s lots of potential

Negative side:

fails sometimes because the waves are always changing. Storms can cause the wave to rise as big as 40-50 feet in a matter of hours. Harsh weather condition, the electricity has to be drawn back to land with undersea cables witch cost a lot initially and to maintain.

Wave terms:

• Crest: the upmost part of the wave.
• Trough: the lowest point on a wave.
• Wavelength: the horizontal distance between one crest and the next crest (or trough and trough).
• Wave height: a measure of how many waves pass in a certain amount of time.
• Frequency: measure of how many waves pass in a certain amount of time.

Tidal Power

Tidal power is produced using tidal energy generators. These gigantic underwater turbines are inserted in areas with high tidal movements.  They are designed to capture the motion of the ocean tides in to produce electricity. Tidal power has a great potential for future power and electricity generation because of its size of the oceans.  Tidal power is also renewable so it can be constantly used.

Pros:

• Tides can be predicted so you can see when the high and low tides come in
• Tides require no fuel
• Tides do not have a large environmental impact
• Tides produce electricity in a reliable way