According
to the Energy Educators of Ontario, "In a four day period the planet's oceans absorb
an amount of thermal energy from the sun and kinetic energy from the wind equivalent to
all of the world's known oil reserves." (Stuart Baird, M. Eng, M. A.). Consider
that for just a moment. A four day period! So what's the problem? Just
the usual cost factors. Initial investments are still too large due to the lack of
development in harnessing the ocean's energy.
To remove the heat energy from the oceans, we take advantage of the
temperature difference between the surface water and the cooler, deep water. Warm,
surface water can be converted to steam under a vacuum and the steam drives a
turbine. The cool ocean water is then used to condense the steam. The
condensed steam can be used for irrigation or drinking water since it is relatively salt
free.
There are several methods of producing electricity from wave motion.
Most of them convert the mechanical motion to electricity by driving fluid to turn
an electric turbine. The chief problem involved is that the devices must be able to
withstand the increased wave force associated with storms. This makes such devices
fairly expensive.
