The Manchester Bobber

[jpak]

http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/003548.html

Power generation based on the "motion of the ocean" offers significant long-term value, and arguably could eventually displace solar and wind generation for large-scale renewable energy projects. Hydrokinetic power (encompassing wave, current and tidal power) doesn't have the "intermittency" problems facing solar and wind, nor are there as many issues about ruined views and overrun landscape. Costs remain high, however. There are numerous ocean power projects in testing, and while most show promise, I don't believe we've yet seen the real breakout project putting ocean power at the front of the renewable energy race.

The latest contender is the "Manchester Bobber," an ocean power platform design from the University of Manchester. The up-and-down motion of the water surface drives a generator; a full-size unit should be able to produce a mean power output of around 5 megawatts:

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[Massacure]

1. I like the idea of these types of hydroelectric power,

Especially with the fact that most of the large cities are on the ocean.

[petronius]

2. These ideas are very cool

I wonder if you could put wind turbines on top of the bobber platform?

[phantom power]

3. A link to a PDF presentation

This has some more details how the system works, more diagrams, etc.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=8&q=http://www.engineering.lancs.ac.uk/REGROUPS/LUREG/Joule_presentations/Manchester%2520-%2520Peter%2520Stansby.pdf&e=10342