Japan turns ocean into source of electricity

Japanese scientists are using turbines to turn ocean waves into electricity, making the ocean a huge source of renewable energy.

Turbines can harness energy from ocean waves. Photo: OIST.

Scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate Institute of Science and Technology in Japan have successfully harnessed the energy of ocean currents using underwater turbines, UPI reported. The research team is aiming to harness the energy of ocean waves. They are preparing to install the turbines in areas with the greatest wave kinetic energy.

"If you go around the beachesin Japan,You will see a lot of tetrapods,” said Tsumoru Shintake, a professor at OIST.

Tetrapods are pyramid-shaped concrete structures designed to dampen the force of waves, protecting beaches from erosion. Shintake wants to replace tetrapods with turbines to convert wave energy into electricity.

"The tetrapods and breakwaters cover about 30 percent of Japan's coastline. Using just 1 percent of Japan's coastline, we can generate about 10 gigawatts of electricity, equivalent to 10 nuclear power plants," Shinetake said.

Shinetake and colleagues began designing their turbine prototype in 2013. They called the technology a wave energy converter (WEC). The turbines' design can withstand the large waves caused by typhoons.

The turbine’s blades are inspired by dolphin fins, which are strong but flexible. The column or stem that the turbine is mounted on is flexible, resembling a flower, and can bend without breaking. The WEC floats above the surface in calm waters, but it goes underwater when waves crash.

“I imagine the Earth 200 years from now. I hope these turbines will work quietly and beautifully on every beach they are present on,” Shintake said.

According to VNE