waves

Cause and effect: As we gain the know-how of developing and nurturing alternative energy sources, they will become more economically viable. Maybe soon we'll see surfers with some sort of device attached to their boards absorbing energy as they ride, then selling it to localized stations when they're finished?

..."the costs of producing electricity from wind energy have fallen by 80% over the past two decades as a result of volume and production optimization. With opening costs around half wind energy’s opening costs and a quarter the current cost of solar, a new form of wave energy harvester has the potential to become one of the lowest cost forms of generation in the longer term. The Pelamis is a semi-submerged structure composed of cylindrical sections linked by hinged joints. The wave-induced motion of these joints is resisted by hydraulic rams. These pump oil through hydraulic motors which drive generators to produce electricity. Power from all the joints is fed down a single umbilical cable to a junction on the sea bed. Several devices can be connected together and linked to shore through a single seabed cable."