Wave Power: The Next Green Energy

Wave energy converters are yet another option for a renewable energy source. The producer of the leading wave energy converters are Pelamis Wave Power. They have started the first commercial wave farm off of the coast of Portugal. The farm can produce 2.25 megawatts or 750 kilowatts for each of the three converters. This is a substantial amount of energy being produced for something that is just floating in the ocean. If this first attempt at the wave farm is successful with the three "sea snakes" that they have in the ocean now, the plan is to expand the farm to 25 Pelamis Wave Converters or PWECs. (Here is a YouTube clip that better explains how PWECs work). This expansion will allow the farm to produce enough energy to power 15,000 homes in Portugal. This amount of energy is significant. This wave farm is extremely significant because if it does turn out to be successful it may be a form of energy that other countries can seriously consider. Any country that has an oceanic border could potentially use these energy converters. The PWECs could be used in conjunction with other forms of renewable energy and in doing so we could substantially reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. If this planet is going to be saved from potential dangers such as global warming and a depletion of all of our fossil fuels we are going to have to start integrating more and more renewable resources. It is imperative that we act now before it is too late.