Why don't we use the powers of the Oceans to create energy? There must be a way.?

Answer 1

There are many methods of using the ocean or other bodies of water to generate electricity. However, they all have huge impacts for the local environment.

The same group of people that tend to push for alternative energy sources (environmentalists) are generally against the creation of power plants that have major impact to the environment.

For example, powering turbines with waves or the tide would be relatively simple to design. However, what happens to the wildlife that lives in the water? They'd get pulled into the turbines and get shredded. If you try to keep them from getting pulled in, you'd have to build a structure to physically keep them out. A wall would stop the flow of water and completely negate the point of the power plant. A fence or net would cause wildlife to get tangled in there and possibly die.

Answer 2

the power of the oceans?

there are some tidal powered hydro-electric generators but it takes a very unusual topography to make one economically feasible

the question is never "can we use whatever to create energy", the question is, if we did, will it be better, cheaper, cleaner than other energy sources

the most important one is cheaper

whenever someone develops a cheaper source of energy, it catches on very quickly

Answer 3

I am not 100% sure, but I think the Bay of Fundy up there in Nova Scotia has a huge tidal difference, and they have a turbine or are working on one.

Again, it is all economics.

Look at the two-faced Kennedy family. They keep pushing green power, but when it is suggested to put up off-shore wind turbines, they complained because it would ruin their view off cape cod in Mass. Even though the wind turbines would be miles and miles out.

Answer 4

To date, the easiest way has been to put dams across inlets such that
as the tide goes in, it turns the generators one way and when it goes out
it turns the generators the other.

However, that dams up inlets and is pretty environmentally drastic.

There have also been projects where people have put huge turbines
in major currents - however, they tend to kill whatever might be swimming
in those currents.

As is true with everything else we put in the ocean, anything with
moving parts will have tremendous wear-and-tear with corrosion, etc.
The engineering problems are daunting, but not insurpassable.

Answer 5

They are using it... Someplace in Europe i think.. Also there is a study going on about the Tacoma Narrows area in Washington state.. As the name suggests that area is very narrow and the tide surge through it is amazing. Not sure what they are planning but just heard a small bit about it only last week...

Answer 6

Some already thought of a way. Use the Waves to produce power.

Waves hitting paddles turns wheels. Turning wheels make electricty

Answer 7

In Noway they built generators to create electricity using the wave and tides to turn the genrators.

There have been ideas like that suggested in the US, but environmentalists keep complaining that the fish won't like them!

We can do it, it's been proven. We just need to get out polititions off their butss to pass laws to build them

Answer 8

hydro power may be created from oceans.But required amount of high energy may not be created .Any way lets think of that in future...

Answer 9

We are too busy destroying the world, we don't have time and will to think of good things unfortunately, and there are few people who think like you and even fewer who can really do something. It's sad.

Answer 10

Yes, it's called Hydro Power, right? http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/hydro.htm

Peace!