With the oceans covering over 70% of the earth’s surface, they are the world’s largest collector and retainer of the sun’s vast energy – and the largest powerhouse in the world.
This energy is continually renewed and is available 24/7.
Just a small portion of the energy conveniently stored in the oceans could power the world.
Jacques Cousteau said it was equivalent to 16,000 nuclear plants. So how can this source of abundant energy be captured and utilized? For over 60 years several forms of tapping this energy have been researched and implemented, and now with fossil fuels running out and increasingly expensive, they are more than competitive in costs – and the ‘fuel’ is both free and clean.
The various form of ocean energy are: OCEAN CURRENTS, OFFSHORE WIND, OCEAN THERMAL / OTEC, WAVE ENERGY, and TIDAL ENERGY.
NOTE: This information is provided with thanks to Ann Marie Harmony and the POEMS (Practical Ocean Management Systems) website which has been incorporated into this website of the Ocean Energy Council. It was updated in October, 2004. For current information click on WORLDWIDE DEVELOPMENT OF OCEAN ENERGY and INTERNATIONAL NEWS on this website.