Australia’s coastline may soon have more than just great beaches and incredible species to boast about.
Wave energy, a zero emissions clean energy which harnessing the constant movement of the oceans, could be delivering thousands of megawatts of energy to coastal communities by 2020. Building wave energy would not only help slash Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, it would provide jobs in construction, manufacturing and maintenance.
WWF and Carnegie, a leading producer of wave energy, have release Power to Change: Australia’s Wave Energy Future which gives details of the what, how, where and why behind this remarkable, Australian made technology.
Check out the full report here (PDF, 600KB).
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One must allow a certain caution about this, and tidal, power due to the very vocal backlash against such sustainable power sources as wind power.
It would seem that Australians do not wish to see any of the infrastructure of power development. They do not want any inconvenience from this infrastructure either.
I would suggest that this includes the necessary power transmission systems.
So unless these new energy solution do not affect the less realistic members of our society there will be strong verbal opposition.
Tried to check out your report on wave energy. the link took me to something on an American geothermal technology. Interesting but not what I was looking for. Back in the ’90’s I consuted to Aircraft Marine Products (AMP) based in Harrisberg PA. AMP owned a technology based on the principles of Piezo electricity. That is, a plastic that when moved, generated an electric current. This technology is in use in ll sorts of apps from movement detectors in hard drives to light strips in aircraft. An Australian, whos name I never learned, approached management with the idea of setting up arrays of piezo strips, similar to the great kelp beds of California, in the ocean and capturing the electricity that would be generated by the endless movement of the ocean. I never did hear what happend, it would be interesting to learn.
The Environmental, Conservation and Animal Rights groups are full dissention. Though they share some common goals they can’t present a unified front.
Remember the Wind Turbine development problem in Gippsland - an endangered parrot potentially could make a navigational error and get sliced by a turbine. No group would concede that the wind turbines might mitigate the use of coal generated power who damage is far more widespread to animal/plant/humans that a couple of navigationally challenged parrots.
What do you think the backlash will be from the above groups if we harnessed water power which involves some small coastline changes and infrastructure. They can’t see the bigger picture that’s why I’m ready to give up on my whole environmental stance.
Until the mentioned groups learn to work together and present a united front, the public will grant them little credibility and support.
The correct link has been posted. Both reports are great information!
I imagine a wave driven power station on a pristine beach near a large metropolis would pass muster with nary a negative comment. Good luck
I imagine a wave driven power station on a pristine beach near a large metropolis would pass muster with nary a negative comment. Good luck