Harvesting Energy from Water Waves

Michael Fuhs reports in FTD (13.3.2006) about wave power generation, ie drawing energy from the ups and downs of water waves. It seems to be a booming time for this renewable energy source. Some 200 million euros are going to be invested in wave technology in Europe for the next 5 years, writes Fuhs. By the end of this year a Portuguese energy consortium is about to install three wave generators of the Scottish Ocean Power Delivery Ltd. Four cylindrical vessels are connected by joints. The water motion bends the joints which initiate hydraulic processes to run a turbine. But there are also other technical approachers in development. The British Carbon Trust, estimates that roughly 20 percent of British energy consumption might be provided by wave or tidal power generation.