NZ: Power of the Sea Waits to be Harnessed
October 30th, 2007Via: New Zealand Herald:
In just a decade New Zealand may be drawing on the sea to supplement its energy supply.
Marine energy technology, also known as blue energy, is being developed overseas and there is growing interest in it here.
Our large coastline means the country would be well placed to draw on the power of the sea and marine energy could contribute significantly to energy supply needs.
Waves generated by the “roaring forties” winds in the Southern Ocean and Tasman Sea hit the western and southern coasts and it is estimated they could produce an average wave power of more than 100 kilowatts per metre of wavefront.
Energy Minister David Parker has called for applications for funding to investigate potential wave and tidal generating devices for use here.
A marine energy deployment fund would offer grants of up to $2 million a year for the next four years.
Mr Parker said the intention was to get wave and tidal energy generating devices in the water to get some practical experience of what worked and its impact in the marine environment.
He said technological developments were making it more practical to harness solar and wind energy so he was confident of finding practical ways to harness marine energy.
“We’re pushing the development of this technology because marine energy is the next logical step in the development of new sustainable and renewable energy sources.”
A wide range of options for marine energy generation was being developed internationally, and most were offshore and underwater.
Mr Parker expected the first devices to be working by 2010.
Research Credit: Bruce
