Portuguese Sea Snakes

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Bird of Prey

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I think that's great, very cool, although I have my concerns. Great step in the right direction though.
 

Higgins

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I think that's great, very cool, although I have my concerns. Great step in the right direction though.

Nobody is really even sure if the sea snakes are going to work at all, much less be cost-effective. Still, it is an interesting development.
 

Joe270

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These snakes seem an odd choice. I don't understand how they can be as efficient as the old 'nodding ducks' which generate electricity with wave action. Nodding Ducks don't present such a large footprint on the water, either. The snakes also appear to me less likely to survive storms.
 

Higgins

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These snakes seem an odd choice. I don't understand how they can be as efficient as the old 'nodding ducks' which generate electricity with wave action. Nodding Ducks don't present such a large footprint on the water, either. The snakes also appear to me less likely to survive storms.


IT seems like the snakes could get more energy out of long-period swells than buoys could...more than a single bouy anyway.

There are plans to put the snakes off the West of England and there is a prototype in the Orkneys:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6410839.stm

And a prototype off Portugual:

http://media.cleantech.com/243/italian-fashion-the-military-sea-snakes

But more work has been done on buoys:

http://www.elkraft.ntnu.no/eno/bolgekraft/2005Budal_latching.pdf

http://www.oceanpowertechnologies.com/

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/04/wave_power_alte_1.php

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003832241_webwave11.html

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=35125
 
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Joe270

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Very interesting technology. This is obviously slow-speed generator power rather than the high-speed stuff common with dams.

France has a very old and well done tidal slow speed-generator, I thought it was in Le Havre, but I can't swear to it. I don't see why more of those weren't built. The Bay of Fundy could export electricity.

Thanks for the info, Sokol.
 
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