Posted on 06/03/2022 6:52:31 PM PDT by American Number 181269513
In the wake of the devastating nuclear meltdown at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant in 2011, officials have been hunting for new sources of green energy — and they're leaving no stone unturned.
A heavy machinery maker in Japan called IHI Corp has successfully tested a prototype of a massive, airplane-sized turbine that can generate electricity from powerful deep sea ocean currents, Bloomberg reports, laying the groundwork for a promising new source of renewable energy that doesn't rely on sunny days or strong winds.
The company's latest prototype is called Kairyu and weighs in at 330 tons. Two counter-rotating turbine fans are connected by a massive fuselage, which allows the entire apparatus to float while anchored anchored to the sea floor, hovering between 100 and 160 feet below the surface.
There, it pulls energy from one of the world's strongest ocean currents, off the eastern coast of Japan, using it to spin its mighty turbines.
During demonstrations earlier this year, the company was able to generate around 100 kilowatts of stable power. During future tests, IHI Corp is hoping to generate two megawatts, with the hopes of kicking off commercial operations in the 2030s, Bloomberg reports.
Japan is also exploring other ways to generate energy from the sea, including tidal power and ocean thermal energy conversion, the latter of which generates electricity by exploiting the temperature differential between cold and warm ocean water.
Engineers now have the challenge of scaling the operation to a point where it makes economical sense, which is not an easy feat.
"The biggest issue for ocean current turbines is whether they could produce a device that would generate power economically out of currents that are not particularly strong," Angus McCrone, marine energy analyst, told Bloomberg.
Flipper....Nooooo!
Seems fishy to me...
But seriously, will this mechanism also kill birds?
True, but nothing can survive salty ocean water forever.
flying fish maybe...
NOPE NOPE NOPE Save the whales. Endangered snails. Three speckled sea urchins.
My "mighty" Briggs and Stratton home genset produces a quarter of that. But I burn the evil natural gas to do that.
Everything has it's drawbacks.
And the ocean's fish are under a lot of stress from the Chinese overfishing.
you’ll kill all the fishies
better you freeze to death
One of the first things I learned when living at the coast.
There's only 2 things that salt water doesn't fuggup.
Fish, and saltwater.. d;^)
And it provides all the sushi for free!
Seems fishy to me...
But seriously, will this mechanism also kill birds?
No but Bee’s better watch out!
Hmmmmmm. Godzilla was born out of American nuclear testing, doncha know?
It will make sushi faster than a 100 Benihana chefs on meth.
“The oceans hold vast resources of untapped energy sources.”
The Ocean: The Final Frontier. Such mysteries still to be discovered.
When I was a kid I saw the Disney movie “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” with Kirk Douglas and James Mason. It was at the local theater (back in the days when admission was .25 cents). I also read the book by Jules Verne. I very much enjoyed both.
Years ago there was a place on the coast of Maine where they generated electricity using the 12-15ft tides coming and going. Don’t know if it’s still operating.
Tried tidal turbine generators Many years ago in Fundy.
Grit, sand, and salt destroyed turbine blades.
Perhaps there are more durable materials now.
100 Kilowatts?
So Every hour, a 330 ton device generates about $6 worth of electricity.
neat.
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