Where there\u2019s smoke, there\u2019s fire, and where there are great bodies of water, there could be great power. On the border between the US and Canada, there is an entire system of integrated freshwater lakes. This entire system is known as the Great Lakes, and contains 21% of the globe\u2019s surface freshwater. Besides being a vital life source and a significant economic driver, engineers believe there are 575 GW beneath the Great Lakes, all thanks to its hidden currents.<\/p>\n
The motion to renewable energy<\/p>\n
Trends come and go, but when it comes to the environment, the eco-friendly trend is here to stay. At present, the world is gradually transitioning to renewable energies to meet one goal: Zero carbon emissions by 2050. Why? Because the burning of fossil fuels has gone on for too long, and the effects of climate change must be alleviated, if we want to continue living on planet Earth.<\/p>\n
Typical renewable sources include solar, wind, and geothermal energy. However, these sources all face challenges of their own, with examples including requiring a large use of land, weather dependency, and noise and visual pollution. Thankfully, a team of engineers from the University of Minnesota-Duluth has discovered a new, untapped source of energy with extreme potential.<\/p>\n
This energy source just goes with the flow<\/p>\n
The engineers have been focusing on tapping into wave energy as a feasible alternative to other renewable energies. The massive body of water of interest for testing is the Great Lakes, as it offers a more ideal environment and has an existing marine infrastructure. The Minnesota shoreline of Lake Superior is of particular interest due to the presence of average wavelengths of 2 to 3 meters, indicating a considerable amount of potential energy.<\/p>\n
According to the SASS Wire Forum, point absorbers were utilized to harness the wave energy, which can convert this energy to power by utilizing a linear or rotary generator. Another approach is pumping fluid with mechanical force and motion directly. After careful research, the engineers discovered that the Great Lakes have a potential energy of 575 GW.\u00a0We smell a potential renewable energy revolution<\/a> in the air.<\/p>\n According\u00a0to Impactful Ninja,\u00a0this untapped potential energy could power the US by supplying almost half of its energy demands. Tapping into wave energy could result in an uncharted territory that many will certainly rush to benefit from. Wave energy as a potential renewable source also has many advantages beyond its power.<\/p>\n A source that delivers so much more than just power<\/p>\n Traditionally, testing of wave energy has been mostly done in salt water, but it faced challenges due to the highly corrosive properties of salt. Thanks to the Great Lakes and their freshwater environment, corrosion concerns are a thing of the past, and Wave Energy Converters prototypes (such as the point absorbers) can be utilized to test this untapped source\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n According to\u00a0The World Economic Forum and Global Bioenergy Partnership, wave energy has numerous advantages to consider compared to other, more common renewable sources. These advantages include:<\/p>\n Higher energy density<\/p>\n Waves have a higher energy concentration, resulting in more power from a smaller carbon footprint<\/p>\n Environmental benefits<\/p>\n It produces zero greenhouse gases and pollutants Predictability and consistency<\/p>\n Waves are relatively predictable and consistent due to the moon\u2019s gravitational pull\u2019s influence and wind patterns<\/p>\n
\nHas a smaller carbon footprint, as it doesn\u2019t require extreme land use and it\u2019s not visually polluting<\/p>\n