The submerged windmills

     Fossil fuels are polluting our planet whereas the oceans are clean and huge energy reservoirs. The submerged windmills use ocean tidal flow, which active the rotor and, thanks to a generator, produce electricity.

    This way presents several advantages. First, the environnemental impact is reduced and there is no polluting waste. Then, the electricity production is expectable because tides follow a predictable timetable. At last, this resource is unlimited, contrary to the ones currently used.

     However, some problems are not resolved. The submerged windmills may represent a danger for boats and fishes. Furthermore, we don’t really know the turbines’ real resistance against watersalinity.

picture from marineturbines                                                                                                       

     The first firm to install submerged turbines was the British company Marine Current Turbine™ Ltd (http://www.marineturbines.com).

For more informations :
_ http://i-eclectica.org/2007/09/08/tidal-power-testad-off-the-coast-of-oregon/
_ www.geotimes.org/aug05/feature_renewables.html (not just about submerged windmills)
_ www.e-tidevannsenergi.com

                                                                                                                                       Charlotte