Australia is known for its beautiful beaches and huge waves, which makes it a great place to go for those who love to go surfing. These waves, however, are not only beneficial to surfers, as they could also be used as a source of renewable energy.
Among those harnessing this tidal potential is Sydney-based Mako Energy. The company makes underwater turbines ranging between two and four meters in diameter. One turbine operating in constantly flowing water can produce enough electricity to power up to 20 homes.
The turbine design could also be used in slow-flowing water, which enables it to generate electricity from rivers and irrigation canals.
"We're developing turbines at a scale where they can be deployed easily in remote communities, coastal businesses, island communities and resorts," Douglas Hunt, managing director of Mako Energy, told CNN Business.
Although tidal energy is still in its infancy, it could help to reduce Australia's dependence on fossil fuels.
"The majority of the energy in the national grid is from coal," explained Jenny Hayward, a research scientist at Australia's national science agency, CSIRO. "We also have wind and solar PV [photovoltaic]."
But compared to other forms of renewable energy (such as solar and wind), tidal energy has a major advantage, which is its predictability. Installing this comes at a cost, however.
More details about this over at CNN.
(Image Credit: Pixabay)
I mean their toilets flush in reverse. Far as I'm concerned they're capable of anything.
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A while back it was proposed to harness the tides of the Bay of Fundy. Wonder if that is still in the future.
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