There are numerous companies who are developing units to generate electricity by this method,but there are few if any published costings in relation to these ,the only figures i have seen relate to an american company who say their machines cost approx four million dollars each,to be viable there would have to be at least twenty of these operating to generate a reasonable contribution to the national grids of any country,is this therefore a system worth considering as an alternate energy source,given that most windfarm generators will take at least twenty years to pay for themselves and are to my mind an expensive alternative energy source.
By: Sky High - 6th October 2010 at 10:08
“I like windfarms, they are hypnotically beautiful and a darn site prettier than pylons.” PeeDee – oh, well exactly the opposite for me – I abhor them and the raison d’etre behind them. It’s all a big con to enable the government to meet utterly unrealistic targets and the end result will be that we run out of the electricity we need in around 10 – 14 years time.:mad:
By: tenthije - 5th October 2010 at 22:58
A lot of years ago there was a plan to develop a “energy resorvoir”, for lack of better words.
The main problem with windmills is that they only work when there is wind. Of course the demand for electricity does not change with the wind, and batteries are not the most effective form of storage. The plan from engineer Lievense was to put a large 12 meter tall and 20 KM diameter circular dam in the middle of the Markermeer. On top of this dam would be build 400 large wind mills.
In high wind the windmills would supply electrical power, but would also fill the reservoir. In low winds the reservoir would be emptied thus supplying hydro-power.
The main disadvantages where the risk of a tsunami in case something went wrong, and of course the price tag that in 1985 was estimated at 5 billion guilder (~2,3 billion euro, without inflation correction!).
The same process can also be used to make nuclear power more efficient. A nuclear plant works most economical at peak capacity. At night the nuclear plants run at “idle” because there is lower demand. With this water buffer the plant can continue running at optimal capacity. A proposal was made for a 80 meter tall and 5 KM diameter circular dam. Here too the price was just too high.
By: PeeDee - 5th October 2010 at 21:37
The wave machines never did get the serious research it need(s)ed.
Like tidal, benefits of Tide are obvious, it happens twice a day…rain or shine, wind or not.
But, all the gubbins and mechanics are underwater, maintenance costs are a nightmare. It would need doing daily, seeweed and other bits would need clearing from the kit, or from the filters of the kit.
Maybe wave kit/machines are also difficult to maintain too.
Osmosis power never got alook in either, exploiting the saline sea vs fresh water in a large tube with a membrane bottom. The pressures or the vacuum created can be immense, ergo energy.
I like windfarms, they are hypnotically beautiful and a darn site prettier than pylons.
By: Sky High - 30th September 2010 at 08:41
I think, but for the present and past governments’ obsession with wind energy, wave energy might have been studied in much more depth. There’s probably not enough in it for electricity companies………..;)
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September 29, 2010 at 8:57 pm