tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post4892981915842308452..comments2023-12-01T16:56:04.415+11:00Comments on Peak Energy: Tapping The Source: The Power Of The OceansBig Gavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682404837426502876noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-88300907515629925182015-11-24T01:27:50.403+11:002015-11-24T01:27:50.403+11:00Solar is growing fantasticallySolar is growing fantasticallyozehttps://wspieramoze.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-59259201181010193152010-03-19T05:02:16.702+11:002010-03-19T05:02:16.702+11:00great job! Stuffed with info ^_^great job! Stuffed with info ^_^Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-72652086694217066302009-01-31T17:26:00.000+11:002009-01-31T17:26:00.000+11:00Seems to me that the wave-powered devices would al...Seems to me that the wave-powered devices would also be useful for creating artificial harbors and habitats offshore. This would increase sport fishing and scuba diving.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-36501647185366609672008-04-28T21:22:00.000+10:002008-04-28T21:22:00.000+10:00One from New Zealand, on a trial plant in the Cook...One from New Zealand, on a trial plant in the Cook Strait :<BR/><BR/>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10506544Big Gavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682404837426502876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-36479536248867632482008-03-06T20:57:00.000+11:002008-03-06T20:57:00.000+11:00One from Tidal Power News on a pilot project near ...One from <A HREF="http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/hydro/tidal-power/" REL="nofollow">Tidal Power News</A> on a pilot project near the Golden Gate Bridge :<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.examiner.com/a-1259551~Ridge_near_bridge_will_be_focus_of_tidal_power_plans.html" REL="nofollow">Ridge near bridge will be focus of tidal power plans</A>Big Gavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682404837426502876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-54828863223201375842008-03-05T21:19:00.000+11:002008-03-05T21:19:00.000+11:00One from The Industry Standard on new startup OreC...One from The Industry Standard on new startup OreCon :<BR/><BR/>http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/03/04/orecon-another-wave-power-startup-dives<BR/><BR/>Vast amounts of power are locked away in the movements of the ocean, but because of technical challenges, the number of startups that have attempted to harness wave power thus far is relatively few when compared to wind or solar.<BR/><BR/>orecon0.JPGOreCon is the latest, with plans for a sort of giant, self-contained buoy that floats atop the water, each unit generating a megawatt and a half of energy. The company has raised a substantial first round of funding, which it plans to use in building a full-scale example.<BR/><BR/>One of the problems with putting mechanical equipment in the ocean is that the salt and other chemicals in sea water tend to destroy moving parts. OreCon uses a design called the Oscillating Water Column to keep most of the parts well above water level.<BR/><BR/>orecon.JPG In an OWC, which is a well-known setup, the pressure from waves outside the device causes water to rise and fall within it, which in turn pushes air in and out through a turbine, creating energy. They tend to be fairly inefficient, though. (See this brief animation to get a better idea of what happens in an OWC.)<BR/><BR/>OreCon’s innovation is using what it calls “multi-resonant chambers”. In its proprietary design, the company deploys multiple OWCs around a 40 meter platform that’s tethered to the sea floor a few miles off shore.<BR/><BR/>The first unit should be deployed somewhere off the coast of England, where OreCon was founded six years ago. Closer to home, rival designs by Finavera Renewables and Pelamis Wave Power are planned for deployment off the coast near San Francisco.<BR/><BR/>The funding OreCon raises was for £12 million (about $24 million US dollars). The round was led by Advent Venture Partners, and Venrock, Wellington Partners and Northzone Ventures also participated.Big Gavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682404837426502876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-1286796477390109672008-03-05T19:26:00.000+11:002008-03-05T19:26:00.000+11:00And one from Renewables Offshore :http://www.carol...And one from Renewables Offshore :<BR/><BR/>http://www.carolynelefant1.typepad.com/renewablesoffshore/2008/03/is-tidal-power.html<BR/><BR/>Is Tidal Power Too Costly For the Near Term: A Tale of Two Studies<BR/><BR/>Both Tacoma Power and Snohomish County PUD evaluated similar tidal resources in the power-rich Tacoma Narrows. But one utility has already concluded that tidal technology isn't economically feasible, at least in the short term, while the other continues to study the resource.<BR/><BR/>So which utility will continue to swim against the tide while the other decided to return to shore?<BR/>According to the Herald.net (3/3/08),Tacoma Power bailed out, concluding that it could take eight to ten years to make an investment in tidal power pay off. According to Tacoma, the tides are not strong enough to generate enough power with the technology now available.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, Snohomish is moving forward with its own three year study of the resource. As of now, the PUD is expecting tidal power to cost close to what Tacoma Power concluded, or slightly less -- $170 to $230 per megawatt hour.<BR/><BR/>These numbers aren't surprising - and they won't decline until, as with wind, the industry matures. In the meantime, developers, investors and coastal communities will need to decide whether the short term costs are worth accepting given the potential for long term benefits.Big Gavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682404837426502876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-31904136288898894632008-03-03T21:42:00.000+11:002008-03-03T21:42:00.000+11:00Here's an interesting idea - a wave powered boat.h...Here's an interesting idea - a wave powered boat.<BR/><BR/>http://www.popsci.com/gear-gadgets/article/2008-02/wave-runnerBig Gavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682404837426502876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-20167472670786772922008-03-02T07:56:00.000+11:002008-03-02T07:56:00.000+11:00Forgot to mention the very innovative GyroWaveGen...Forgot to mention the very innovative GyroWaveGen(tm) technology now being developed and tested in the US. This technology should be much easier to deploy, maintain and obtain permits for (because it floats like a boat and can be easily moved to shore). It also might be much more economical to build and operate, because it is a compact above-the-water technology who's moving parts are completely sealed off from contact with either the seawater or air.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-9005853975076549622008-02-27T15:44:00.000+11:002008-02-27T15:44:00.000+11:00Energy is being removed from the waves = wave heig...Energy is being removed from the waves = wave height decrease... just as there is a wind decrease behind a wind turbine. The trick, as you say, will be in the spacing. A field of these might be a better solution to harbours instead of some of the ugly, and in many cases silting up, breakwaters that have been constructed... including the one at Pt MacDonnell!<BR/><BR/>Personally, Im not against the idea, but it will need good consultation and planning. At least these things can be readily removed .<BR/><BR/>SPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-22231715536018554652008-02-27T10:28:00.000+11:002008-02-27T10:28:00.000+11:00Great post Big GavGreat post Big GavSteven Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10565348360344090704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-63871504424086922372008-02-26T22:54:00.000+11:002008-02-26T22:54:00.000+11:00Ah - the Rock Lobster thing is a bit of an obstacl...Ah - the Rock Lobster thing is a bit of an obstacle.<BR/><BR/>I'm much less certain about the calmative effect of a few of these things bobbing in the waves (or even a large flotilla, assuming they were spaced reasonably far apart) - do you really think they would have a noticeable impact ?Big Gavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682404837426502876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-57215194666162797752008-02-26T21:52:00.000+11:002008-02-26T21:52:00.000+11:00Actually Gav, its attachment to the sea floor that...Actually Gav, its attachment to the sea floor that is the problem... the local fishery is one of the largest (multimillion $$) Rock Lobster fisheries in Australia. The CETO scheme removes access to the the habitat.. and you can be sure you wouldn't be allowed to set anything near the field... all those pipes you see...<BR/><BR/>Any scheme that removes power from waves is going to produce localised calming... this could be used to good effect eg for harbours.. but it will also change local hydrodynamics. Definitely a more dramatic ecological effect than the one experienced by small parrots near wind turbines.<BR/><BR/>SPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-8450651536534342902008-02-26T21:03:00.000+11:002008-02-26T21:03:00.000+11:00Interesting points.Most wave power schemes don't s...Interesting points.<BR/><BR/>Most wave power schemes don't seem to take up much space or present a huge hazard to boating (the CETO units are attached the the sea floor too).<BR/><BR/>So I'd hope the local fisher-folk would get over it - and it sounds like the local farmers and townsfolk would like the water.Big Gavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682404837426502876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-57408970460179656612008-02-26T20:41:00.000+11:002008-02-26T20:41:00.000+11:00Also, Im not sure how the local fishing industry w...Also, Im not sure how the local fishing industry will react to an offshore power plant... given the frosty reception meeted out to the messengers obliged to inform the public about SAs new marine parks.<BR/><BR/>SPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-15786156719931387982008-02-26T20:37:00.000+11:002008-02-26T20:37:00.000+11:00In the article about CETO (and I do like the conce...In the <A HREF="http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23201807-5003680,00.html" REL="nofollow">article about CETO</A> (and I do like the concept along with the Pt Kembla one) I don't understand the reasons. Desal water for Adelaide and mining?!<BR/><BR/>Pt MacDonnell is 550 km from Adelaide so are we going to build another pipeline?<BR/><BR/>If you check Google Earth you will note that this region (and I AM VERY familiar with it) has a) no rivers and b) a large number of centre pivots (the large green circles you will see).<BR/><BR/>Any water supply issues CETO might be solving would be local depletion of the ground water... but it might be unpolitic to say this.<BR/><BR/>Power generation is a different issue.<BR/><BR/>The SA-Vic inter connector is located near by... built at the same time as the ALCOA smelter at nearby Portland.<BR/><BR/>This area is also in the loop for any Nuclear Plants that future Govts might want to build.<BR/><BR/>SP<BR/><BR/>Curvy Parabolic mirrors... Who needs nasal spray!<BR/><BR/>Correction. There is the Glenelg River. But in the lower reaches its not much used for irrigation... its a national park.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-4055120640409625592008-02-26T20:34:00.000+11:002008-02-26T20:34:00.000+11:00I aim to please.Just wait until I do one on CSP - ...I aim to please.<BR/><BR/>Just wait until I do one on CSP - all those curvy parabolic dishes and enormous central towers filled with molten salt :-)Big Gavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682404837426502876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-68047624474548505362008-02-26T20:22:00.000+11:002008-02-26T20:22:00.000+11:00What a Centrefold ;-)SPWhat a <A HREF="http://peakenergy.blogspot.com/2008/02/doomer-feedlot.html#comments" REL="nofollow"> Centrefold</A> ;-)<BR/>SPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-87043085351305551102008-02-25T21:08:00.000+11:002008-02-25T21:08:00.000+11:00Comments at TOD ANZ :http://anz.theoildrum.com/nod...Comments at TOD ANZ :<BR/><BR/>http://anz.theoildrum.com/node/3643Big Gavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682404837426502876noreply@blogger.com