Renewable energy is generally classified as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydro electric generation and biofuels for transportation. But the definition may soon need to be broadened to include tidal or wave power.
While not the first tidal wave project in the world or the US, Ocean Power's Oregon wave power project is the only such project with a current FERC permit to feed power into the grid and a true energy pioneer.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57496932/ore-wave-power-project-gets-federal-permit/. As planned, Ocean Power will generate 1.5 megawatts of tidal power off Oregon and feed that power into the grid.
If Ocean Power is successful, the Energy Information Administration will have another technology category to start tracking and the definition of renewable energy will have to be updated by us all. Moreover, the potential of tidal power is considerable and is an example of why the future of energy always surprises.
Tidal power machines are likely to appear more often in the closest future, I assume. AND THAT IS GREAT! It should compete with noisy wind farms and large-scaled solar power stations.
ReplyDelete