Producing clean energy by exploiting the waves of the sea. An idea not entirely new but in Japan it is a reality and promises to produce 10 times more energy than nuclear power
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himProducing clean energy by exploiting the waves of the sea. An idea not entirely new but in Japan it is a reality and promises to produce 10 times more energy than nuclear power.
An idea born in 2012 thanks to the scientists of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) in Japan with a project entitled "Sea Horse". The target? Harnessing the energy of the ocean current Kuroshio.
The latter is the second current oceanic largest in the world, after the Antarctic circumpolar one. It originates in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Taiwan and moves to Japan, where it flows into the North Pacific current. Its nickname is “black current”, literal translation of kuroshio, due to the intense and dark color of its waters.
In the stretch of Japanese coast lapped by this current, Japanese scientists aim to produce clean energy thanks to these submerged turbines anchored to the seabed through mooring lines. The turbines are capable of converting the kinetic energy of Kuroshio's natural currents into electricity, which is then transmitted to land through submarine cables.
The initial phase of the project was successful. Since then the team has had another idea: to exploit tetrapods, structures often placed along the coastline to weaken the strength of where arriving and protecting the banks from erosion.
"Surprisingly, 30% of the seashore in Japan is covered by tetrapods and wave protection systems" explains il professor Tsumoru Shintake a capo della ricerca.
Just replace them or anchor turbines to them to generate clean energy and at the same time protect the coasts.
"Using only 1% of the coasts of Japan, about 10 gigawatts of energy can be generated, equal to 10 nuclear power plants".
To address this idea, OIST researchers in 2013 launched the WEC project which involved placing turbines at key points along the coastline to generate energy. Each location would allow the turbines to be exposed to ideal conditions both to generate clean and renewable energy and to protect the coast from erosion.
The turbines themselves were built to withstand the strong thrusts of the waves. Very flexible and light, according to the scientists they have been designed not to harm marine life as the blades rotate at a carefully calculated speed, which allows any trapped creatures to escape.
Now, Professor Shintake and the unit researchers have completed the first steps of the project and are preparing to install the 0.70 meter diameter turbine models for their first commercial experiment. The project involves the installation of two turbines that will power the LEDs for a demonstration.
READ also:
- HOW TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY FROM THE WAVES OF THE SEA, THE NEW TECHNOLOGY OF ENEA (VIDEO)
- ENERGY FROM THE WAVES: IN VENICE THE ELECTRICITY PRODUCED BY THE SEA OF THE LAGOON IS EXPERIENCED
“I imagine the planet in two hundred years. I hope these [turbines] will work hard and well, on every beach they have been installed on, ”Shintake said.
Francesca Mancuso
