Photo © Guigo.eu
One of the biggest benefits of this technology is the fact that when severe storms strike the ships can be kept in ports. However, this seems somewhat counter-productive because the strength of waves during a storm can produce huge amounts of electricity very quickly. Fixed wave-power generators must be built to cope with extremely high waves, which adds to their cost, but they can remain out at sea during storms and produce a great deal of energy. They also don’t involve the element of human danger apart from during maintenance.
Nonetheless, the cost savings of these vessels could signify a game-changer for the wave power sector. Furthermore, the fact that the technology can be retro-fitted onto existing ships makes for even more cost savings.
With cost being one of the few remaining barriers to renewable energy technology fulfilling our energy needs, projects like this are pivotal to our energy future.
+ Fraunhofer Center for Manufacturing Innovation
Via New Scientist
far better solution in your own pages:
http://inhabitat.com/ecotricitys-searaser-tidal-power-generator-could-be-the-worlds-cheapest-method-of-producing-electricity/
I agree with L. Appleton. They should store the energy as hydrogen gas. I also agree with C. Angelo
I completely agree to C. Angelo’s post above.
Why can’t the huge amount of energy (MW) be used to run the Ships themselves?
If it can then it’ll be huge saving over Fossil Fuel Usage and we can have the marine equivalents of Electric Vehicles.
Making the batteries to store the energy causes HUGE environmental impact…and then the batteries have a finite lifespan. The idea is great, we just need to come up with a storage mechanism with a lower environmental impact.
Could this technology be used to meet the power needs of seafaring vessels, rather than storing the energy and bringing it back to land?
I don’t see how this is cheaper. You spend fossil fuels to drive out to the ocean and then back…