Wave energy has been around since before the early 1900s, but it’s only in recent years that researchers have fully realized its potential as an alternative energy source. Today, wave energy is used to provide electricity to homes and businesses in Japan, Australia, Spain, Portugal, and the United States. This list of advantages wave energy will show you how quickly wave power is growing in this industry and why it’s becoming one of the most popular sources of alternative energy.
The 1st Wave of Renewable Energy
Until now, wind power has been king of alternative energy. It’s reliable, it’s cleaner than fossil fuels and it’s affordable. But new technologies are emerging that promise to surpass even wind power. Now, we need to understand its potential so we can start finding ways to use it on a large scale as soon as possible. This infographic outlines why wave energy is taking over and what types there are. The Best Part About Renewable Energy Sources: Wind and solar power are gaining popularity because they’re free, inexhaustible sources of energy that aren’t dependent on climate or location. They also have zero negative impact on people or nature – unlike fossil fuels which emit harmful pollutants into our air and water supplies.
Other Sources of Renewable Energy
While wave energy has become increasingly popular, it’s not an entirely new idea. In fact, humans have been relying on other sources of renewable energy for centuries—the burning wood and crops to create heat or generate power. Now, with our reliance on fossil fuels comes greater incentive to find alternatives. What are some other common forms of renewable energy?
Here are a few that you may want to consider… Solar energy – The most obvious alternative to fossil fuels is solar energy, which can be harnessed by using photovoltaic cells (which turn sunlight into electricity) or thermal collectors (which use sunlight to warm air and water). Solar technology can also be used in conjunction with wind turbines. Wind power – Another obvious alternative is wind power, which uses large turbines anchored by cables placed between 30 feet and 300 feet above ground level.
The Perfect Combination?
Wave energy and solar power have some o
bvious synergies. Wave energy can produce electricity when there’s no sun, and solar power works best when there’s a lot of sun. For those who live in windy areas or near coastal regions, wave energy could provide additional power generation capacity in combination with solar. Theoretically, you could even use a small-scale hydroelectric plant to charge up your batteries during high tide. The possibilities are endless!
What Are the Advantages?
In addition to being clean and renewable, wave energy offers a variety of advantages over other forms of power. Let’s look at some key advantages. Wave Power Isn’t Intermittent: One advantage that sets wave power apart from many other sources of renewable energy is its reliability. The waves don’t stop rolling in just because it isn’t sunny or windy.
Is It Safe?
One of the advantages of wave energy’s is that it’s completely clean. In fact, wave power generates no CO2 or other greenhouse gases, plus no pollutants. It can be used in coastal areas where there are strong winds—because wind energy turbines cause significant noise pollution—and it can also generate energy in deep ocean waters where other renewable energy sources would fail to reach. As a result, many countries are looking into wave energy as a major source of renewable energy. The U.S., for example, has already implemented a number of projects and plans to expand them significantly over time.
How Does it Work?
In recent years, there has been a push to find an alternative renewable energy source for planet Earth. More specifically, we need an alternative that can supply large quantities of electricity without releasing harmful CO2 into our atmosphere. The answer seems to be wave power; but what are its advantages? We’ll talk about that in a moment. But first, it’s important to know how wave power actually works. Here’s what you need to know… Wave power plants are essentially underwater wind turbines. Like wind turbines, they rely on kinetic energy—the movement of waves—to generate electricity. As waves move through water and onto shorelines, they transfer their momentum to other parts of water—in effect, transferring their kinetic energy from one point to another.
