Harnessing the ocean’s energy

Posted on April 8, 2007
Filed Under Technology |

BioStreamWhy spend millions of dollars designing a device that captures the power of the sea, when nature has already put in a few billion year of Research and Development work? That was Tim Finnigan’s thinking when he adapted shark tails and seaweed into oceanic energy collectors. “I realized the systems that function best in the ocean are the ones that already exist there,” says Finnigan, a professor of ocean engineering at the University of Sydney in Australia and the founder of BioPower Systems.

Finnigan’s BioStream design is modeled after the most energy-efficient tailfins in the sea, such as those of sharks and tuna, which use a stiff, crescent-shape fin to generate thrust. As the ocean current wags the BioStream’s mechanical tail side-to-side, a gearbox converts the oscillation into unidirectional motion to drive a magnetic generator The kelp-inspired BioWave reaches toward the sea surface to catch passing waves and uses a similar generator to turn the motion of the ocean into electricity. Both models continuously self-align with current for optimal performance, and their bio-inspired shapes are extremely durable in rough conditions.

BioPower is developing three versions of each design, with the goal of supplying power to customers by next year. At two megawatts, the largest generator would produce enough electricity to power 1,620 homes, Finnigan says. At 8 to 15 cents per kilowatt-hour, the electricity would cost more than other energy sources, but it won’t pollute the environment or ruin beachfront views.

Renewable energy is fast becoming viable for many communities and several governments are looking at starting projects to study it further. For example, Spain recently announced that within two years the small island El Hierro will soon be able to rely on a combination of hydroelectricity and wind power to generate its electricity. Smart and groundbreaking technologies such as those offered by BioPower Systems will help us make a smooth transition to an economy that does not rely on oil for its energy needs.

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