A PATCH of sea the size of the Sydney Cricket Ground could generate enough power for 25,000 homes, say the backers of a technology that converts the motion of the ocean into electricity.

The system, known as Ceto, uses the energy from waves to harvest power - with zero greenhouse gases - and has been labelled as a potential "holy grail" of renewable energy by the Federal Minister for Industry, Ian Macfarlane.
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source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/ … 97016.html

Interesting read keithy. Thanks

There seem to be a number of renewable energy sources that used where suitable would surely avoid the need of nuclear power.

Solar towers also look practical to me
http://www.enviromission.com.au/index.htm

Hi keithy,

Also found nuclear plants require a LOT of water to operate. Yet another reason to not have them.

I don't know what's happened to the Solar Tower.

I think it was going to cost 800 million dollars for 200MW.

This would be peak output, aswell: not constant as Nuclear Power would be.

Nuclear Power plants would cost 5 times as much for five times the peak power...but that peak power would run almost constantly.

The main drag with Nuclear Power is the waste.

I'm not sure if the new proposed reactors will have the water wastage problem that you speak of, either.

My anti-Nuclear issue is regarding the waste...it is not our problem and never has to be.

In my view the plan to bring Nuclear Power down under is unnecessary and is only proposed to make Australia the worlds biggest Nuclear Waste dump.

In my view the anti-Nuclear of Australia can make this world a safer place by holding the Nuclear cowboys to account.

That is our superpower and the cards will be played correctly. We cannot live through an age of terrorism with cowboys running Nuclear Power.

We owe it to everyone to keep the Nuclear Genie out of Australia.

We shouldn't even dig it up but if we didn't we would probably get invaded.

 :-?

I'm not sure if the new proposed reactors will have the water wastage problem that you speak of, either.

I think it's still the same fundamental design from a thermodynamic perspective. You need to get rid of vast quantities of heat. A large body of water is the only effective (ie cheap) way to do that.

freediver wrote on Sep 12^th, 2007 at 11:10am:

I'm not sure if the new proposed reactors will have the water wastage problem that you speak of, either. I think it's still the same fundamental design from a thermodynamic perspective. You need to get rid of vast quantities of heat. A large body of water is the only effective (ie cheap) way to do that.

You are probably correct, then.

I will take it on board.

This looks promising. First raised by keithy - I think.  :-/

Another good aussie invention sold overseas.   >:(



Wave Energy & CETO background:
Named after the Greek ocean goddess, the CETO system distinguishes itself from other wave energy devices by resting out of sight on the ocean floor.
An array of submerged buoys is tethered to seabed pump units. The buoys move in harmony with the motion of the passing waves, driving the pumps which in turn pressurize seawater which is delivered ashore via a pipeline.
The high-pressure seawater can then be used to supply a reverse osmosis desalination plant, replacing greenhouse gas emitting pumps usually required for such plants.
The high-pressure seawater can also be used to drive hydro turbines, generating zero-emission electricity.

Other wave energy & CETO characteristics include:
�� Wave energy is a renewable, zero-emission source of power.
�� 60% of the world lives within 60km of a coast, minimizing transmission issues.
�� As water is about 800 times denser than air, the energy density of waves exceeds that of wind
many times over, dramatically increasing the amount of energy available for harvesting.
�� Waves are predictable days in advance, making it easy to match supply and demand. (Wind is
predictable hours in advance at best.)
�� CETO sits underwater, moored to the sea floor, meaning there is no visual impact.
�� CETO units operate in deep water, away from breaking waves. The waves regenerate once they
pass the CETO units, meaning there is no impact on popular surfing sites.
�� CETO units are designed to operate in harmony with the waves rather than attempting to resist
them. This means there is no need for massive steel and concrete structures to be built.
�� CETO is the only wave energy technology that produces fresh water directly from seawater by
magnifying the pressure variations in ocean waves.
�� Any combination of power and water can be achieved from 100% power through to 100% water.
�� CETO contains no oils, lubricants or offshore electrical components. CETO is built from
components with a known subsea life of over 30 years.
�� CETO units act like artificial reefs in the way they attract marine life.
Carnegie Corporation (CNM) is a clean energy technology developer currently involved in developing two
clean energy technologies: the CETO Wave Energy technology and its 100%-owned clean coal technology,
Cleaner Coal Power. Carnegie is focused on developing, commercializing and operating clean energy
technologies that will lead to revenue generating projects globally.


http://www.ceto.com.au/home.php - the amination here is good

Why hasn't Australia taken up this technology - especially as the NSW & Victorian governments are building desalination plants.

Wouldn't this kill two birds with one stone - drinking water and energy?

mantra - it'ld certainly help a lot !!
has been a great disappointment to me for years I have seen Aussie inventions like this get no support here, and be sold overseas for a very low price.

This system can very the %age of fresh water produced or electricity produced.
During peak demand timens, set it to 100% electricity. At lower demand times, mainly water.

Systems like this, once up and running effectivelt cost nothing to keep going. Sort of like insulation in a roof in a house, or a water tank. It just sits there quietly producing for the owner.

Yes Sprintcyclist - viable renewable energy alternatives have been ignored by both major parties.  That's why it's so important that an environmental party gets some power in the Senate come election time.  

They are the only ones who care enough to bargain for more funding for these innovative companies to thrive in Australia.  We ciould easily become leaders in this technology, but the Libs & ALP seem determined to keep fossil fuel industries alive and now uranium is on the agenda.

The coal and uranium industries control our governments - so it will be a long time before renewables become a priority.

An environmental party would cripple this nation quicker than you can blink.

Retards pandering to other retards that have no inkling about the power requirements that the population and industry require

IQSRLOW - I don't get it. The outmoded system we have now is sufficient.
We can use that for the foreseeable future.
To take the peak loads off the system, supplementary systems could be quickly be installed.
Solar towers, these wave energy systems, wind farms, on a smaller basis, encourage house by house solar panels, water tanks.
Gradually could these supplementary systems essentially take over from what we have now ?

nuclear power has no net advantages, there is no "clean coal" power station operating in the world.
The total cost of nuclear power is very expensive, "clean coal" is still a polluting nonrenewable.

This system can very the %age of fresh water produced or electricity produced.  
During peak demand timens, set it to 100% electricity. At lower demand times, mainly water.

So can any system. It is much more efficient to desalinise waste water than sea water.

Systems like this, once up and running effectivelt cost nothing to keep going. Sort of like insulation in a roof in a house, or a water tank. It just sits there quietly producing for the owner.

Anything built in the ocean requires heavier maintenance.

What amazes me is that renewable energy freaks think that with a heavy injection of funds from government coffers that a 'set and forget' never ending power supply that can cater for peak loads is a reality...and the only thing holding it back is greedy oil, coal and uranium corporations (along with the Howard govt  ::)) surreptitiously working in the background to put paid to these wonderous inventions.

I swear, the average intelligence of the online forumite is less than a 14 year old

No offence Sprint- not directed at you

No probs IQSRLOW.
yes, as a  >14 year old  ( :) , thanks mate!) , I feel renewables are the only way to go.

Flow batteries (invented by the UNSW, held now by cougar energy) coupled with renewable power supplies looks perfect to an idealistic sprintcyclist.
Wind/solar power units are used successfully in remore areas. Wind and flow batteries used succesfully in Tassie.
Combinations of these and others in local areas would be perfect.

IQSRLOW wrote on Sep 6^th, 2007 at 10:20pm:

An environmental party would cripple this nation quicker than you can blink. Retards pandering to other retards that have no inkling about the power requirements that the population and industry require

Are we living in a society or an economy?

This is seriously becoming like the matrix.

You are a retard. Growth economies cannot, forever, continue. Where is your soul?

Why did America get attacked, btw?

*Retard!*

mantra wrote on Sep 6^th, 2007 at 6:01pm:

Why hasn't Australia taken up this technology - especially as the NSW & Victorian governments are building desalination plants. Wouldn't this kill two birds with one stone - drinking water and energy?

*Think about what it promises to the less fortunate around the world!*

Are we living in a society or an economy?

What a fantastic pointless question!

This is seriously becoming like the matrix.

Is that where you get your conspiracy theories from?

You are a retard. Growth economies cannot, forever, continue. Where is your soul?


And you are a socialistic idealist moron with no clue who would willingly plunge society back into the dark ages without fear of repercussions that would have because of your bias.

Why did America get attacked, btw?

Another great non-point  ::)

*Retard!*

Obviously you though the retard comment was meant for you...if the shoe fits Dipshiit  ::)
.

Stop with the personal insults.

IQSRLOW wrote on Sep 8^th, 2007 at 12:29pm:

Are we living in a society or an economy? What a fantastic pointless question! This is seriously becoming like the matrix. Is that where you get your conspiracy theories from? You are a retard. Growth economies cannot, forever, continue. Where is your soul? And you are a socialistic idealist moron with no clue who would willingly plunge society back into the dark ages without fear of repercussions that would have because of your bias. Why did America get attacked, btw? Another great non-point  ::) *Retard!* Obviously you though the retard comment was meant for you...if the shoe fits Dipshiit  ::) .

Warmonger.

Warmonger.

The term you are looking for but frightfully unfamiliar with is 'realist'

IQSRLOW wrote on Sep 9^th, 2007 at 12:29pm:

Warmonger. The term you are looking for but frightfully unfamiliar with is 'realist'

You are not a realist when you can't address the inability of growth economies to continue growing forever.

 :D :o :D ::) :-? :o :P ;) :-/ :'(

http://energetech.com.au:8080/index.htm