Tidal power is non-polluting, reliable and predictable. Undersea tidal turbines, like wind turbines but driven by the sea, and a variety of machines harnessing undersea currents are under development.
Wind energy is an indirect form of solar energy. While some of the sun's energy is absorbed directly by the air, most of the energy in the wind is first absorbed by the surface of the earth and then transferred to the air by convection.
Waves get their energy from the wind. Wind comes from solar energy. Waves gather, store, and transmit this energy thousands of miles with little loss. As long as the sun shines, wave energy will never be depleted.
With the oceans covering over 70% of the earth’s surface, they are the world’s largest collectors of the sun’s vast energy – and the largest powerhouse in the world. Just a small portion of the energy conveniently stored in the oceans could power the world.
Oceanic surface currents are an untapped source of energy. Because of their link to winds and surface heating processes, the ocean currents are considered as indirect sources of solar energy.
OTEC energy is based on the temperature differences between surface water, which is heated by the sun, and deep water, which stays very cold. OTEC uses the surface water to make steam and then pass the steam through a turbine generator to make electricity.
OTEC NewsLockheed Martin Receives Largest Federal Ocean Energy Award in 30 YearsWednesday, 26 August 2009Released Friday, August 21, 2009 5PM EST:
Lockheed Martin Corp., Manassas, Va., is being awarded an $8,119,625 firm-fixed-priced contract to advance the development of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) technology system components and subsystems for Navy applications. The work will support the Naval Facilities Engineering Services Center (NAVFAC ESC) Ocean Facilities Department in the execution of ocean energy systems development to advance OTEC as a renewable ocean energy technology for future applications at Department of Navy facilities. The primary work to... Read More...
Worldwide Ocean Energy NewsOfficials celebrate opening of America's first hydrokinetic power projectWednesday, 26 August 2009HOUSTON, Texas, U.S. 8/20/09 (PennWell) -
On the Mississipi River in Hastings, Minn., the first of two hydrokinetic turbines has been activated as officials celebrated the official opening of what has been billed as the nation’s first federally-licensed hydrokinetic power project.
Federal, state and city officials gathered here Aug. 20, 2009, to mark the first production of a 100-KW turbine manufactured by Houston-based Hydro Green Energy LLC. The second turbine will be installed next year. Together, the two units will be able to generate up to 250 KW at the Mississippi Lock and... Read More...
Wave Energy NewsOcean Power Technologies Achieves Major Milestones with PB150 PowerBuoyFriday, 12 June 2009PENNINGTON, N.J., Jun 11, 2009- Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. ( NASDAQ:OPTT and NASDAQ:London NASDAQ:Stock NASDAQ:Exchange NASDAQ:AIM: OPT) ("OPT" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has reached two major manufacturing milestones in the development of the Company's flagship PB150 PowerBuoy(R), which is to be ready for deployment at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Scotland by the end of 2009.
A state-of-the-art wave energy converter, the PB150 is the latest exciting development in OPT's utility PowerBuoy product range. Once fully... Read More...
Tidal Energy NewsOcean Renewable Power Company Receives Maine Technology Asset Fund AwardFriday, 12 June 2009Ocean Renewable Power Company, an industry-leading developer of tidal energy technology and projects based out of Portland, ME received a grant of more than $800,000 from Maine Technology Asset Fund to advance its proprietary technology.
PORTLAND, M.E., June 11, 2009 – Ocean Renewable Power Company, LLC (ORPC) announced today the award of over $800,000 of funding from the Maine Technology Asset Fund that will be used to build and test the commercial design of its proprietary tidal energy technology, which will increase the number of ocean energy jobs in Maine.
ORPC,... Read More...
Worldwide Ocean Energy NewsInterior and FERC Announce Agreement on Offshore Renewable Energy DevelopmentWednesday, 25 March 2009WASHINGTON, DC – In a joint statement issued today (March 17, 2009)Secretary of the Interior (DOI), Ken Salazar and Acting Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Jon Wellinghoff announced that the two agencies have confirmed their intent to work together to facilitate the permitting of renewable energy in offshore waters.
“Our renewable energy is too important for bureaucratic turf battles to slow down our progress. I am proud that we have reached an agreement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding our respective roles in... Read More...
