Forget green, go blue!
Solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric power, energy efficient bulbs, geothermal power: we’ve come up with plenty of techniques in the search for alternative energy sources, but so far, none of have been the answer many scientists have hoped for in their the search for sustainable and renewable energy.
But researchers at Florida Atlantic University believe they may be developing the long sought after solution: the ocean. The Gulf Stream to be exact.
The Gulf Stream, which is known for its powerful currents, is on the eastern shore of Florida, and starts in the Caribbean and ends in the upper-North Atlantic. Scientists are looking to launch an underwater turbine program to extract power from the currents.
Florida is fourth most populous state in the U.S. and comes in third in the nation for total energy consumption. Researchers are looking to launch a pilot program in 2010 and hope to have a 20-kilowatt underwater turbine by then. They say the program may ultimately be able to power 3-7 million homes in Florida, or supply 1/3 of the state’s total energy.
How do sea turbines work?
The idea behind underwater turbines is similar to the idea of wind turbines on land
Water flows by the turbine, and turns a rotor blade. Energy is generated by the rotating rotor blade.
That energy is then transmitted from a generator inside the turbine to electrical conducting cables, where it's captured and harnessed for use.
The energy moves through the cable to the shore. A hydrogen by-product of the process is collected on a ship.
What's next?
More research needs to be done to find out what kind of effect these aqua-turbines could have on marine life.
Researchers behind the project say tapping into this resource is a no-brainer: “The Gulf Stream is on 24/7. It’s flowing 365 days a year, so it’s a continuous source of energy," said Sue Skemp, executive director at Florida Atlantic University's Center for Ocean Energy Technology.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will have to look into a range of issues before the project can move forward. They will have to assess the effects it will have on marine life, recreation activities, and shipping routes.
If the pilot program works though, the program can be put into place in the next 5 to ten years.
Don't want to wait for the sea turbines to start turning to save energy? Find out ways to conserve energy every day!
