Hydro Power
This page will include information on wave / tidal power, micro-hydro, and large scale hydro power.
Large Scale Hydro-Electric Generation
It is generally not well known that large scale hydro-electric power is not a great investment. It returns (besides nuclear which by some estimates have yet to make a profit) just about the lowest percentage of profit when considered against other forms of renewable energy. If you consider the cost of displacing residents and the loss of cultivated land there may actually be a net loss of income as well as biodiversity.
These large scale plans have wreaked havoc politically in many areas and are not regarded as being an environmentally sound strategy for a clean energy future.
Micro-Hydro Power
If you have running water on your property then this is your ticket to continuous energy. This turns out to be one of the most cost effective means of generating electricty. As a component in a hybrid system it compliments by providing power when there is no sun or wind. It has a low environmental impact since the size of the unit allows you to be more flexible when designing around nature so as not to disturb it. Much smaller head pressures are required allowing for smaller collection ponds and only partial diversion of streams and creeks to achieve usable water pressures.
Tidal / Wave Power
Tidal, or wave power as it is often called is ironically most available to those that will be impacted most by rising ocean levels. Obviously there is an incentive for island nations (and states) to consider where our energy comes from and develope technologies that reduce our carbon footprint. I've heard recently on NPR that Hawaii is working on becoming the wave power capital of the world.
Archimedes Wave Swing Teamwork Techniek a Netherlands based organisation have an exciting new product for harnessing the power of the waves, they claim that their product, the Archimedes Wave Swing (AWS), is competitive with other energy generation technologies. The concept is a simple system of connected air chambers utilising a flywheel effect, using the heave of the sea to produce electrical energy. Sea heave is caused by the action of the wind on the water surface, in turn wind energy is caused by solar energy but with waves during the process of conversion the energy is concentrared more and more, from 100w/m2 upto a level of 100kw per wave front. Also wave energy is reliably present even during calm periods, unlike wind energy proper, so wave energy can also be considered as stored wind energy. Where a wind turbine produces on average 20% of it's rated capacity, the AWS produces 50%.
Ocean Energy Ocean energy systems produce power from either the movement of waves and tides or the temperature differences that exist in the ocean. Ocean energy topics include thermal energy conversion systems (closed-cycle, open-cycle, and hybrid), tidal power systems, and wave power systems.
Ocean Energy - Waves Wave energy conversion takes advantage of the ocean waves caused primarily by interaction of winds with the ocean surface. Wave energy is an irregular and oscillating low-frequency energy source that must be converted to a 60-Hertz frequency before it can be added to the electric utility grid.
The Wave Power Group Wave Energy Systems: The original focus on wave energy systems has widened to include: airturbine design, explosives suppression, mine clearance, high efficiency computer controlled hydraulics for manufacturing and mobile equipment;anti-vibration mountings for isolation of precision processes and Stirling engines. The underlying theme is computer controlled electro-mechanical solutions to engineering design.
