Ocean currents occur naturally both on the surface and in the depths of the sea. Many currents run in consistent locations and directions, which makes them a valuable resource in generating sustainable and renewable energy. Understanding what drives ocean currents is important in developing new ways to harness these resources to create power for homes and businesses on the shore.
How Ocean Currents Form
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has identified several different factors that contribute to the creation of ocean currents:
- Tides
- Differences in water density and temperature
- Prevailing winds
- Geological features of the ocean floor and the coastlines
- The rotation of the earth
Each of these factors plays a role in establishing and sustaining ocean currents in reliable directions and locations.
The Coriolis Effect
According to the science and nature journal National Geographic, the Coriolis effect is a result of Earth’s rotation and causes currents to deflect northward in the Northern Hemisphere and southward in the Southern Hemisphere. This is the reason that draining water swirls clockwise in northern latitudes and counterclockwise in latitudes south of the equator. The Coriolis effect affects water on the surface as well as water close to the ocean floor.
Harnessing the Power of Ocean Current Energy
NOAA estimates that the Gulf Stream current moves approximately 150 times the amount of water carried by the Amazon River. The potential for deriving energy from this current is significant. Ocean current energy could provide a sustainable, renewable and practical solution for managing energy requirements for homes, businesses and industries in the United States and around the world. OceanBased Perpetual Energy is working to create a brighter and more environmentally responsible future with technologies designed to put the clean energy available in ocean currents to use.
How OceanBased Is Revolutionizing Clean Energy
In conjunction with the Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center, OceanBased has already demonstrated the value of the kinetic energy of the Florida Gulf Stream current by producing energy for 24 hours straight. This proves that marine hydropower solutions can provide clean and sustainable energy for companies across the region and throughout the United States. Ocean current energy could potentially provide a substantial percentage of the power needed to manage current and future requirements.
At OceanBased, we are committed to the most innovative approaches to marine hydropower. To learn more about how we are revolutionizing clean energy, give us a call today at +1 (305) 2 ENERGY. We look forward to touching base with you and your company.
