Wind Power versus Wave Power
- some details

As the debate on wind power versus wave power goes on, we set out the following brief details.

The UK has the best wave and tidal resource in Europe, an asset that has the potential to provide a considerable proportion of the UK power demand in years to come. This will run alongside atomic energy plus coal and gas fired power stations.

Coupled with this new technology is a strong history of innovation that has produced some of the leading marine energy devices in the world today. These devices face a number of challenges before they can meet their potential and reach large-scale commercialisation ahead of their global competition, but the rewards will be great.

The UK is an island surrounded by water - obvious. Tides come and go every day as a matter of course, and yet, so far very little has been done to harness this great source of energy. Instead millions of pounds have been invested in wind power, which many say is politically motivated.

Where wind farms are concerned, many a failing to produce the wind power and the amount of energy they will actually produce. There are substantial hidden costs which are unfortunately being heavily subsidised by the consumer. In addition some people consider them to be a blot on the landscape, noise intrusive and a danger to birds and are seriously provoking argument on whether wind power really lives up to its name.

“Under a controversial Government scheme, British consumers pay £1billion a year in their fuel bills to subsidise the drive towards renewable energy “. From Daily Mail - 05/02/2008

Although not yet widely used, tidal power has potential for future electricity generation. Tides are more predictable than wind energy and solar power. Historically, tide mills have been used, both in Europe and on the Atlantic coast of the USA, the earliest occurrences dating from the Middle Ages, or even from Roman times.

The oceans have a tremendous amount of energy and are close to many if not most concentrated populations. Some believe that ocean power will provide a substantial amount of new renewable energy around the world.

For a definition of Wave Power we go to Wikipedia www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_power

Wave power refers to the energy of ocean surface waves and the capture of that energy to do useful work - including electricity generation, desalination, and the pumping of water (into reservoirs). Wave power is a form of renewable energy.

The Scottish Executive announced funding for Scotland’s first wave farm on February 22, 2007. It will be the world's largest, with a capacity of 3 MW generated by four Pelamis machines and a cost of over £4 million. The funding is part of a new £13 million funding package for marine power in Scotland.

The Pelamis Wave Energy Converter is so far, one of the most significant attempts to harness the sea. This is a new technology that uses the motion of ocean surface waves to create electricity. The first prototype was installed at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, Scotland, and officially opened on 28 September 2007.

See www.pelamiswave.com/content.php?id=150

Pelamis Wave Power has also expressed an interest in installing Pelamis devices at the Wave hub development off the north coast of Cornwall, in England.

See www.pelamiswave.com/content.php?id=151

Thanks are given to Wikipedia – the Free Encylopedia www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page for so clearly explaining the trickier, technical parts of this article.

Recommended reading:

NEW Wind Power versus Wave Power - a Debate