According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), hydropower is the most important and oldest source of renewable electricity in this country. Hydropower plants are responsible for about 40 percent of the renewable energy produced in this country. In some cases, however, the environmental impact of hydropower dams and facilities can be significant. The Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) is currently providing support for research and development into marine energy solutions that promise renewable and sustainable solutions for ongoing power needs.
Looking Into New Ways to Generate Hydropower
As part of the DoE, the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy is exploring the potential of marine hydropower at the research and development stages. OceanBased is working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center to develop the most practical, sustainable and reliable solutions for harvesting the power contained in the Florida Gulf Stream current and putting it to work for homes and businesses.
Renewable, Sustainable and Clean
Unlike hydropower dams that can create environmental issues by diverting the flow of water, OceanBased uses energy converters that are located 300 feet below the surface of the ocean. These converters collect kinetic energy and transform it into electricity that travels to ocean substations until it reaches its destination onshore and is transmitted to the electrical grid and to industrial customers. This approach has minimal impact on the environment and can produce as much as four to six gigawatts of power from the Florida Gulf Stream alone. Marine hydropower initiatives can be part of the transition from fossil-based fuels to renewable energy for the United States and for the world.
New Technologies for a Brighter Tomorrow
At OceanBased, we are working with federal agencies and organizations along the Gulf Coast of Florida to create innovative and practical solutions for putting the kinetic energy of the ocean to work in producing the most sustainable and reliable power for families and businesses. Drawing on the potential power of the ocean’s currents is a practical way to supplement current energy production and to reduce or eliminate the need for fossil fuels in the future.
OceanBased is committed to the highest standards of environmental responsibility and innovation in the marine hydropower marketplace. To learn more about what we are doing to assist in the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, give us a call today at +1 (305) 2 ENERGY. We look forward to the opportunity to speak with you.
