Generating energy from waves has long been somewhat of a pipe dream, but that could all change soon as Hawaii gets set to test a massive new energy generating device. The device comes from an Ireland-based company by the name of Ocean Energy, and its CEO believes that wave energy could supply 10 percent of the world’s electricity needs in the future. Basically, the massive 826-ton “Ocean Buoy” generates energy as water pushes air through a turbine, which causes it to spin and generate electricity. Even as wind and solar power continue to quickly grow and drop in cost, there can still be a role for wave power. For one, waves are nearly constant and power can be generated in all conditions, making it a reliable source of energy. The company says a 100-megawatt wave farm could power more than 18,000 homes. On top of that, the equipment could also be used to power desalination plants, fish farms offshore, or even underwater data centers of the kind that Microsoft is testing (servers generate a lot of heat, so putting them in the ocean is one way to keep them cool). We’ll have to wait and see whether wave energy is truly feasible, but in any case, the upcoming tests in Hawaii shows we’re one step closer to adding another source of renewable energy to the world’s renewable energy mix.
Powering the world through wave energy could soon become a reality
More of Today's Solutions
This bike for two lets you pedal through the forest on old train tracks
In an effort to breathe new life into some of America’s historic railway lines, Skunk Train is repurposing unused train tracks as adventurous tour ...
Read MoreClosing the longevity gap: what research reveals about why women live longer
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Across the animal kingdom, females tend to live longer than males, and the same is true for humans. ...
Read MoreCanada sets new methane rules to curb oil and gas emissions by 75 percent by ...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a long-anticipated move, Canada has introduced tougher methane regulations for its oil and gas sector, an industry ...
Read MoreWhy turning support into action matters on International Women’s Day
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM International Women’s Day arrives each year with a familiar mix of brightness and gravity. On March 8, communities ...
Read More
