BioWave: harness Ocean power by mimicking nature

Oceans have tremendous untapped potential for power generation which technology firms have been trying to harness for quite some now. Despite all these efforts, harnessing the Ocean’s huge power hasn’t been very successful till date.

Now an Australian called BioPower plans to harness the ocean’s energy by taking inspiration from mother nature herself. This method called Biomimicry involves the creation of designs which are based on natural systems. BioPower have designed their BioWave ocean energy generation system by replicating the motion of underwater plants due to ocean currents.

For this, they have designed a structure that looks like three pods on a stalk. Due to ocean currents, these pods sway and in turn generate electricity. Upon the advent of very strong currents that may even destroy this system, the Biowave will assume a horizontal position till the mighty ocean calms down. Currently this technology is being tested on a pilot mode, which if successful will power vast areas of Australia. If that happens, we can soon eliminate conventional sources of power and embrace the almost boundless electricity that can be generated in the ocean. Lets hope that the Biowave project is very successful.

From Inhabitat

Freeflow tidal turbines to generate 15,000MW in Canada

Hydro Power Without the Dams: Ontario Invests in Free Flow Underwater Turbines.

The Cornwall Ontario River Energy Project – 15 Megawatts

The province of Ontario is investing C$2.2 million into a project to demonstrate the feasibility and commercial viability of using free flow turbines to harness some of the St. Lawrence River’s kinetic energy and turn it into electricity.

This project is for 15 megawatts, enough to power 11,000 average-sized homes, but Verdant estimates that “there is enough potential power in the water currents of Canada’s tides, rivers and manmade channels to generate 15,000 MW of electricity using its technology”. That would be about the equivalent of 15 big coal power plants.

From Treehugger: Read more