Harnessing Hydropower Energy
According to studies cited in the December 2019 issue of the scientific journal The Ecologist, harnessing just 0.002 percent of the energy currently untapped in the oceans of the world could provide adequate power to manage the global demand for energy. This statistic shows the vast amount of power available to be harvested in the world’s oceans. At OceanBased, we are putting that energy to work by creating innovative methods that could one day serve as a replacement for some or all of the nation’s fossil fuel consumption.
Where Hydropower Energy Comes From
The website of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) offers detailed information on where and how hydroelectricity is currently being generated in the United States. According to the EIA, western states are the largest producers of hydroelectricity, about half of which is being generated by large dams in Washington, California and Oregon. In 2019, the U.S. capacity for conventional hydroelectricity generation was about 80 million kilowatts, which accounts for more than six percent of the total electricity generation for the country.
How OceanBased Is Changing the Game
OceanBased is changing the way in which hydropower will be produced in the future. By channeling the potential energy present in the Florida Gulf Coast current and transforming it into actual power, OceanBased can generate energy from a fully renewable and continuous source that is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
The Gulf Stream moves 8 billion gallons of water per minute northward at three to five miles per hour. In Florida alone, this could produce 4 to 6 gigawatts of energy.
Converting the kinetic energy of the Florida Gulf Coast current into electricity could significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels like petroleum and coal. At OceanBased, we are committed to making the most effective use of this renewable and environmentally friendly energy source to create scalable and efficient solutions for national and global needs.
As a renewable energy developer, OceanBased is committed to harvesting the kinetic energy of the Gulf Stream and putting it to work to power businesses, homes and industry. Hydropower generated by ocean currents could serve as a valuable and continuous source of energy now and for years into the future. We are a preferred partner with the U.S. Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center. To learn more about our efforts to develop sustainable energy, give us a call at 1 (305) 2-ENERGY. We look forward to touching base with you.
