SPECIAL REPORT: Thinking Beyond Oil
"There is tremendous potential in the oceans to supply energy for the world."
Annette von Jouanne, an Oregon State electrical engineering professor
---
AS THE PRICE OF A BARREL OF OIL continues to surge and oil traders eye possible disruptions in production from hurricane Katrina, scientists are turning to the ocean as a possible source of alternative energy.
Many forms of renewable energy have been contemplated, and of course solar and wind power plants are already in use. But so far, only a small fraction of the world's energy production comes from renewable resources.
Scientists have even proposed giant space projects to capture solar energy above the clouds and beam it back to Earth. Those proposals have not come close to getting off the ground, however.
High stakes
Meanwhile, scientists agree that the world will eventually have to rely on something besides oil. Just when the crude will stop bubbling is a matter of huge debate. One scientists says the slow decline will begin later this year. If the wells go truly dry later in this century, as some experts figure, the major nations of an unprepared world might be drawn into all-out war.
"The oil will run out," says Caltech physicist David Goodstein. "The only question is when."
The strain is already building. The United States now imports nearly 60 percent of the oil it uses. China's oil consumption is expected to grow 7.5 percent per year, and India’s by 5.5 percent, according to the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security.
But so far, no renewable resource has been developed to the point that it could replace oil.
The new wave
The potential for harnessing the power of waves has drawn serious study by Oregon State University, federal and state agencies, and communities along the Oregon Coast.
"There's a real good chance that Oregon could turn into kind of the focal point in the United States for wave energy development and I think that would be a boon to the economy,'' said Gary Cockrum, spokesman for the Central Lincoln People's Utility District.
Groups hoping to begin work on experimental technology are considering the International Paper mill site in Gardiner.
"We have a lot of momentum going for it, I think, but we still have to work out lot of details,'' said Alan Wallace, Oregon State University professor of electrical engineering.
Source: http://www.livescience.com/technology/ap_050826_wave_energy.html
Annette von Jouanne, an Oregon State electrical engineering professor
---
AS THE PRICE OF A BARREL OF OIL continues to surge and oil traders eye possible disruptions in production from hurricane Katrina, scientists are turning to the ocean as a possible source of alternative energy.
Many forms of renewable energy have been contemplated, and of course solar and wind power plants are already in use. But so far, only a small fraction of the world's energy production comes from renewable resources.
Scientists have even proposed giant space projects to capture solar energy above the clouds and beam it back to Earth. Those proposals have not come close to getting off the ground, however.
High stakes
Meanwhile, scientists agree that the world will eventually have to rely on something besides oil. Just when the crude will stop bubbling is a matter of huge debate. One scientists says the slow decline will begin later this year. If the wells go truly dry later in this century, as some experts figure, the major nations of an unprepared world might be drawn into all-out war.
"The oil will run out," says Caltech physicist David Goodstein. "The only question is when."
The strain is already building. The United States now imports nearly 60 percent of the oil it uses. China's oil consumption is expected to grow 7.5 percent per year, and India’s by 5.5 percent, according to the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security.
But so far, no renewable resource has been developed to the point that it could replace oil.
The new wave
The potential for harnessing the power of waves has drawn serious study by Oregon State University, federal and state agencies, and communities along the Oregon Coast.
"There's a real good chance that Oregon could turn into kind of the focal point in the United States for wave energy development and I think that would be a boon to the economy,'' said Gary Cockrum, spokesman for the Central Lincoln People's Utility District.
Groups hoping to begin work on experimental technology are considering the International Paper mill site in Gardiner.
"We have a lot of momentum going for it, I think, but we still have to work out lot of details,'' said Alan Wallace, Oregon State University professor of electrical engineering.
Source: http://www.livescience.com/technology/ap_050826_wave_energy.html
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