Article by: Bryn Dixon

What is hydrokinetics?

Hydrokinetics is the study and development of energy harnessing from the natural power of water movement: waves, tidal streams, natural flow of rivers and underwater ocean currents. Although many companies have come up with extremely efficient models and working concepts  for harnessing large scale amounts of power, the environmental impacts are constantly being reviewed and researched for each individual design. Many small scale companies have started developing numerous designs because each body of flowing water acts differently in terms of the turbulence of flow and the speed associated with that flow. Although classic hydroelectric power makes up a larger source of renewable energy, it still utilizes a dam to form a pressure drop to run the generators which can have severe environmental impacts. Hydrokinetics harnesses this natural energy while minimally restricting the impact associated with their installation.

Hydrokinetics is a broad field with many ways to harness energy.  What are most promising routes of hydrokinetic power generation?

Oscillating Water Column- Using a bell shaped housing, this device floats atop the ocean surface capturing the natural rise and fall of the waves allowing the air entrapped above the waves to become pressurized with every rise. As the top of the structure becomes smaller, the force of the air becomes smaller and the speed increases which is converted to electrical energy via a compressor turbine.