How Does Wave Power Work?

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How Does Wave Power Work? by Michael L Leigh

Capturing the energy of waves in the ocean is a very old idea but only recently has it been possible with any amount of success.

The first thing you need to understand is the difference between wave power and tidal power. Waves are created by wind blowing across the surface of the water. Higher winds means bigger waves naturally. However, tides are created by the gravity of the moon and sun interacting on the oceans causing bulging. This bulging rotates the earth with the moon and that is why there are high and low tides. Tides remain more or less the same in terms of energy and intensity.

The first and only commercially-used technology for wave energy is the Pelamis machine. These snake-like tubes float along the surface to the water moving with the waves. This movement is resisted internally by hydraulic pumps that move a hydraulic fluid through a hydraulic motor. This motor is connected to an electrical generator and from there to batteries which will hold the energy generated.

Other ideas exist such as energy buoys which would be anchored to the ocean floor and bob with the waves thus generating electricity. However, this has less testing and commercial use than the traditional Pelamis machines. The technology is catching up though and we might see these energy buoys off our own shores.

There is also an idea to create barricades on shores where waves break directly at the shore. These breaking waves would force water up into the barricades powering turbines. However, this idea hasn't moved beyond simply theoretical so far. It is one of the more promising technologies though.

For more information on renewable energy check out my site called renewable energy future. Also, there is a more detailed article on wave power explained. Hope you enjoyed this lesson.

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