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Title: Harnessing Ocean Wave Energy
Author: Ben Decherd
Abstract:
With obvious consequences to fossil fuel use, research on
renewable energy has greatly increased over the past few decades. A new upcoming technology in this
field are wave power devices which rely on the motion of ocean waves to
produce electricity. Research
conducted on ocean wave data suggests that out of the entire coastal United
States, the Oregon coast provides the best waves for implementation of such a
device. However, more research
must be done on what kind of device, on shore or off shore, would work best
where. Until more is understood
about this technology, which can only come from full scale testing,
widespread development will not occur. Encouragingly, general comparison to other renewable technologies
suggests that wave power may only lie a decade a way.
Key
References:
Edwards,
R. (1998). The Tide Turns. New Scientist. 158(2134),
15.
Hansen, B. (2005). Wave Farm Harnesses Ocean's Energy. Civil Engineering. 75(7), 28-29.
Ozgener, O., Ulgen, K.,
Hepbasli, A. (2004). Wind and
Wave Power Potential. Energy Sources. 26(9), 891-901.
Pearce, F. (1998). Catching the
Tide. New Scientist. 158(2139),
38.
Walsh, D. (2003). Energy from the Oceans Is Real Sea Power. U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 129(8), 88.
Berinstein, P. (2001).
Alternative Energy: Facts, Statistics, and Issues. Connecticut: Oryx Press.
Golob R. & Brus E. (1993). The Almanac of Renewable Energy. New York: Henry Holt.
Jones, A. (2005). Power from the Oceans. The Futurist. 39(1), 37-41.
Knott, M. (2000). Shore Bet. New Scientist. 167(2257),
16-17.
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