Tokyo: Scientists have developed a new turbine that will be able to use energy from ocean currents to produce stable, low-cost electricity.
Researchers from the Graduate University of Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) in Japan embarked on a project titled “Sea Horse,” which aims to harness energy from the Kuroshio ocean currents flowing from Taiwan’s east coast and around the southern regions of Japan. .
It uses underwater turbines anchored to the seabed through anchor cables that convert the kinetic energy of stable natural currents in the Kuroshio into usable electricity, which is then delivered by cable to the land.
The first phase of the project was successful. However, the OIST researchers also wanted a cheaper and easier source of marine energy to maintain.
The concrete structures of tetrapods form something like pyramids that are often placed on the coast to weaken the force of the incoming waves and protect the shore from erosion –
“Thirty percent of mainland Japan’s coastline is covered with tetrapods and wave breakers,” said Tsumoru Shintake of OIST.
Taking these with “intelligent” tetrapods and wave breakers with turbines attached to or near them would both generate energy as well as help protect the shores, researchers said.
“Using just one percent of mainland Japan’s coastline can generate around 10 gigawats of energy, which equates to 10 nuclear power plants,” Shintake said.
To address this idea, OIST researchers launched the Wave Energy Converter (WEC) project in 2013.
It involves placing turbines in key locations close to the shore, such as a nearby tetrapod or among coral reefs, to generate energy.
Each location allows the turbines to be exposed to a wave setting that allows them to not only generate clean and renewable energy, but also to help protect the coasts from while being affordable for those with limited funding and infrastructure.
The turbines themselves are built to withstand the forces that blow at them in bad weather as well as in extreme weather, such as a typhoon.
The design and materials of the blade are inspired by dolphin wings – they are flexible, and therefore able to release pressure rather than being hard and breaking danger.
The support structure is also flexible, “like a flower. Flower gas bends back against the wind,” Shintake said.
The turbines also bend down on the anchor axes. They are also built to be safe for the surrounding marine life – the turtles roam at a carefully measured speed that allows trapped creatures among them to escape.
Researchers have completed the first phases of this project and are preparing to submit the turbines for their first commercial test. The project involves the installation of two WEC turbines that power LEDs for display.