| Those tough lashing waves that we see on the ocean | | | | when there is a low tide, thereby functioning just like a |
| surfaces are not just for surfing or playing water | | | | hydroelectric plant. |
| sports. It can also be used to generate electricity. As | | | | Ocean thermal energy Conversion: Although it sounds |
| of today there are quite a few such plants available. | | | | way too scientific, the concept is a pretty old one and |
| So then, how exactly is electricity generated from the | | | | makes use of the temperature difference in the |
| tidal forces of the oceans? | | | | waters of the ocean. If you had observed while |
| There are different ways of tapping this energy. One | | | | swimming, the water nearer to the ocean surface is |
| way is to capture the tides of the ocean and utilize it | | | | warmer than the water that is deep inside. This |
| to produce mechanical motion; the other ways include | | | | temperature difference is enough to set a |
| capturing the forces of the high tides or low tides and | | | | thermocouple into action, which can generate |
| sometimes capturing the temperature differences in | | | | electricity. |
| different parts of the ocean. | | | | Though it is quite a simple process to extract energy |
| Energy produced using waves: The kinetic energy | | | | out of the oceans, its practicality is again limited to |
| produced using waves is tapped by setting suitable | | | | where the oceans are and are again subject to a little |
| apparatus so as to utilize that energy. A contraption | | | | unreliability and high costs of operation visa vis |
| filled with air lets the high rising tidal wave in, which in | | | | average output in electricity generation. |
| turn pushes the air outside. This air while rushing out | | | | Since oceans cover almost 75% of the earth's |
| sets a turbine into a rotary motion can be used to | | | | surface, they could be thought of as a gigantic solar |
| generate electricity. | | | | cell, if you will. With that kind of abundance, it is only a |
| Tidal energy: Tides rising about on the surface of the | | | | matter of harnessing the right way to deliver this |
| oceans, which are caused by the gravitational forces | | | | energy to our everyday residential or commercial use. |
| of the sun and the moon, can also be tapped just as | | | | While it is uncertain if it could be used for mainstream |
| the way they do in a hydro electric plant. The rising tide | | | | industrial purposes, it could nevertheless supply electric |
| is captured behind a dam like structure and is let out | | | | current to our homes one day. |