Bottom Wave Generators: Hydropower: Eco20/20

Bottom Wave Generators

Brand new sources of green energy are discovered every year. Yet other tried and true sources have been used for many years, such as water. Water has been a renewable energy source using different methods, such as hydropower, for centuries. Wave generators are a more recent technology that uses water to harness energy.

Bottom wave generators are often used to provide light in dark areas around waterways and harbors. They work by using the waves of the ocean created when wind blows across the water. Waves are a very powerful energy source. Wave generators, also known as tide generators, create an ideal environment to harness energy in large amounts in an eco friendly manner.

Several companies have developed wave generators that work from the floor of the ocean. Some manufacturers are able to set up the generators in an hour or so. They are made so that they are able to withstand the rough environment at the bottom of the ocean. At the same time, they are simply designed and are not at all threatening to the environment. These features make wave generations one of many solid, viable solutions for obtaining renewable energy.

The basic design includes a reinforced cylinder made of fiberglass that is connected to a generator. It operates without the use of either oil or hydraulics. The generator is powered by electricity which is created by the rise and fall of the water used to run a large propeller inside the cylinder. The generator is anchored vertically in a fixed spot in a manner that leaves only the very top visible above water.

Some generators are manufactured to use the water going past the propeller once. Newer technology has birthed generators that use the water as it goes up and again when it comes down the cylinder, producing even more energy. Depending on the location, the generators can be used in groups of any number to produce the needed electricity.

Wave generators have realized amazing results in terms of the cost of production. One bottom wave generator company has advertised that that the cost to power a 1MW plant for 20 years can be just 5 cents per kilowatt hour using its wave generator. By comparison, fossil fuel powered plants cost 3-4 cents per kilowatt hour and pose serious environmental hazards as well.

Another type of wave generator is the surface generator, which is stationed on top of the water. The amount of energy produced by surface wave generator varies depending on the height and speed of the wave, water density and other factors. Power plants and water pumps are included among the facilities that used energy created by surface wave generators.

The future is bright indeed for the use of bottom and surface wave generators. The ultimate goal for the future of bottom wave generators is to replace the majority of nuclear and coal power plants with total solar powered electricity. Technology is in the works that would allow hydrogen to be separated from water in the ocean and stored in power cells to run vehicles. Also on the horizon are wave generation that will create electric heat for homes and businesses, saving billions of gallons in oil. These examples are just the beginning. The exciting news is that the planet will "ride the wave" of this exciting technology long into the future.