President Obama and his administration have long been committed to America’s energy security, working to free our country from the volatility and danger of our dependence on foreign oil. That means investing in innovative technologies that create clean, sustainable, and accessible energy.
The Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is working withSeattle-based Principle Power, Inc to develop a method of generating electricity from the powerful winds and waves off our coasts. This device shown below, known as the WindWaveFloat, combines a floating offshore wind turbine platform with wave energy convertors and can generate electricity from the wind and the waves at the same time.
According to the Department of Energy:
Unlike offshore wind turbines that need seafloor foundations, Principle Power's existing prototype relies on a floating triangular platform submerged below sea level and anchored to the seabed by cables. The tower that supports the turbine is built on top of one of the columns that form the corners of the triangle. These vertical columns are ballasted to ensure that the turbine remains upright. Existing wind turbine designs can be installed on the platform because the design is so stable. Due to this floating design, the WindWaveFloat could be placed in locations where water depth exceeds 50 meters, out of sight from the shore and where higher wind speeds offer superior electricity generation potential…
Energy from offshore wind, which is stronger and steadier than the onshore variety, offers the potential to bring cost-competitive clean electricity to our nation's coasts, reduce pollution, and drive job creation in the clean energy sector. Similarly, wave energy has the potential to generate predictable base load electricity for the nation’s coastal communities
The administration’s support for innovative energy technologies, like the WindWaveFloat prototype, represents an unprecedented commitment to develop the industries and energy sources that will help America win the future.