What are the upsides/downsides of water currents vs air currents here?
Is one more consistent than the other?
I imagine that water has more chunks to filter.
Water requires a smaller turbine.
..?
Is one more consistent than the other?
I imagine that water has more chunks to filter.
Water requires a smaller turbine.
..?
The problem with wind vs. water is the extreme harshness of the environment. The only industry which has truly manage to tame the ocean is the oil and gas industry, and that at huge costs offset by the high value of what they produce. Not likely we will ever see anything like that in the renewable field.
No affiliation but an old colleague works there so see them pop up from time to time
Beyond those, are there any additional problems from the environment?
Regarding the environment, under the sea it is quite fine compared to stationary platforms operating in the north sea or Mexican gulf(hurricanes) year around, so that should be easier.
Depending on the turbine design, you don't need to filter anything. The currents (gyre power) are far more consistent than wind turbines.
If not for the difficulties of siting, permitting, and maintaining subsea equipment, gyre power systems are far superior.
I know Carnegie (2) talk up the fact that submerged equipment very rarely gets damaged by storms etc compared to floating or land based systems. (As long as they can keep fishing trawlers away and ban boat anchors in the area.).
1: https://www.offshore-energy.biz/carnegie-preps-new-ceto-desi... 2: https://www.carnegiece.com/
Not to mention, we do enough environmental damage to our oceans as it is.
Maintenance would be simpler than for offshore wind turbines, I guess. You just need to pull them up, instead of climbing up a pole. Maybe you don't even need to service them at high sea but just carry them to shore.