Renewable energy mapping has become an important part of green tech. Areas are mapped according to their wind, solar or geothermal potential and companies use that information to plan their energy projects. Mapping is crucial to understanding where and how the world can convert to renewable energy, but so far wave and tidal energy haven't been mapped. The Scotland government has decided to fill in that gap, at least starting with their shores.
The government has launched a project to map the wave and tidal energy potential of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters north of the country. They are calling the project the Marine Spatial Plan because it will not only gauge the tides and waves, but analyze the seabed, water depth and distance to shore of each area. The project will take some time though. The government expects to develop a preliminary map over the next year.
Mapping startup companies should take note and start some marine mapping of their own. With all the recent developments in wave power, energy companies will want this information.
via Earth2Tech
Subscribe to this comment's feed
written by Blake, February 03, 2009
-
- +0
-
-
written by Ben, February 03, 2009
Pretty detailed tidal/current information is already available for all coastal areas round Europe in tidal atlases and navigational charts, published by various companies, mainly admiralty in the UK and IMRAY in USA I think.
Looking at these publications will show popular belief that tides do not flow at slack tide (high and low) is completely wrong, there is generally a slight reduction.
-
- +0
-
-
written by Tem Kuechle, February 04, 2009
I don't think he was revering to ocean currents or water level changes. As I understand it, waves transfer energy, they don't actually move water like a river does. I don't think the current crop of wave based electicity generators would significantly impact wave energy slamming against the shoreline, but I have not seen any evidence to prove or disprove what I think, really it is my intuition as a surfer, and my 30 years of experiencing the ocean waves. Still, I am not a scientist, so wait and see rhe studies that will eventually prove the viability, efficency and any effects on the local marine environment (hopefully it is safe and clean for all concerned).
-
- +0
-
-
written by Jake G, February 04, 2009
I'm confused. Are you referring specifically to detailed wind maps of Scotland?
Because I'm pretty sure there has been a great deal of wind power mapping.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9885177-54.html?tag=mncol;txt
-
- +0
-
-
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
FEB 03
"How much potential energy is expected to be generated say per hour, fr..."
View all Comments