Department of Energy Study Shows Potential for Ocean Power Production

Michael Harris, Online Editor, HydroWorld
January 20, 2012 | 1 Comments

Waves and tidal currents could generate up to one-third of America's electricity usage per year, according to two reports released by the U.S. Department of Energy that assessed the potential for ocean power off the east and west coasts.

The reports, titled "Mapping and Assessment of the United States Ocean Wave Energy Resource" and "Assessment of Energy Production Potential from Tidal Streams in the United States," calculate the maximum kinetic energy available for future energy production.

The analyses show that wave, tidal and other water power resources could potentially account for 1,420 of the U.S.’s 4,000 TWh of electricity per year, according to the DOE.

The reports note that Alaska and Hawaii have particularly high potential for wave energy development, while parts of both coasts have strong currents that could be tapped to produce tidal energy.

DOE previously released a report titled "Assessment of Energy Production Potential from Tidal Streams in the United States" that also maps theoretical available energy in the nation's tidal streams.

1 Comments

Anatoly Arov
January 25, 2012

It is very interesting to read DOE studies about potential of tidal and wave energy for USA, similar studies are everywhere.
Energized by such articles, as Inventor by nature, I decided to devote myself to the field of alternative energy. I invented FLOW ENGINE for capturing kinetic energy from wind and water (river, tides, waves). Very effective device, at least twice effective compare to lift devices and several times lower in equipment cost. Can not even put this in real water anywhere despite huge efforts; asked DOE with no reply, asked NS tidal - all testing facilities are busy testing similar lift devices. So next year we will see another projection, cotinuation of testing the same technology. By the way, where are test results for those testing - this is propriatory info of Companies.
Finally I gave up, invented new technology/device (Arov static pressure engine)allowing to harness potential of deep water or compressed air static pressure, four times more effective compare to kinetic energy utilization.
There no such category, impossible, you do not have team in place, etc. - with such attitude it also will die and we will continue our path to world distruction, which is disputed with a lot of studies paid by ..... and public money.
After completion of prototype testing I will issue press release for new pressure engine development.