The oceans are overflowing with energy! First and foremost, the kinetic energy of masses of water in movement :the tides, waves and the marine currents. Then there is the thermal energy accumulated by the ocean surface heated by the sun, as well as the energy of osmotic pressure, arising from the high saline content of the seas and oceans.
And finally, there is the energy of the biomass represented by the seaweed.
The quantities of energy involved are enormous; the difficulty lies in recovering them. The milieu of the oceans is indeed very hostile : the density of the water (800 times greater than that of the air) certainly provides major energy flows, but a raging ocean can also cause damage to installations for energy capture, which must, consequently, be of very robust design. Corrosion by salt and by marine micro-organisms also implies frequent and costly interventions for maintenance and repairs on the surface or underwater.
Furthermore, the installations at sea must coexist with fishermen, amateur yachtsmen and the navy. Dialogue between all parties is essential, because it is clear that, in general, the zones where the installations are placed will be forbidden to navigation. |