Comments on: Small Underwater Currents Could Be the Next Big Thing in Alternative Energy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alternative-energy/ 80beats is DISCOVER's news aggregator, weaving together the choicest tidbits from the best articles covering the day\'s most compelling topics. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:16:34 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: ShandyV http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alternative-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-15454 ShandyV Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:42:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alt-energy/#comment-15454 How to make it work means looking at and overcoming the reasons it might not work. And thinking about those ahead of time can save the investment of time and resources lost to false starts. The low flow will allow colonisation by both plants, particularly algae, and sessile mollusks, barnacles, etc. and will probably be the largest issue to overcome. That said, I hope they come up with workable and environmentally benign solutions. How to make it work means looking at and overcoming the reasons it might not work. And thinking about those ahead of time can save the investment of time and resources lost to false starts. The low flow will allow colonisation by both plants, particularly algae, and sessile mollusks, barnacles, etc. and will probably be the largest issue to overcome. That said, I hope they come up with workable and environmentally benign solutions.

]]> By: Bob LaRouche http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alternative-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-15451 Bob LaRouche Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:38:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alt-energy/#comment-15451 We could have endless strings of remarks on why this idea will not, could not, should not work. I am interested in response on why it should, how it should, how to make it, work. We could have endless strings of remarks on why this idea will not, could not, should not work.
I am interested in response on why it should, how it should, how to make it, work.

]]> By: Jon V http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alternative-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-15444 Jon V Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:48:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alt-energy/#comment-15444 I foresee in any warmer currents this not working after a month due to algae growth, and other plant life, regardless of what its made of. Perhaps the technology would work in the northern climates that rarely reach a temperature that is conducive to plant growth, but that's it. Although, once in place, after the initial cost of materials and installation, to pay a snorkeling maintenance crew to do routine cleanings would be still make this a viable energy source. I admire this type of thinking and look forward to future stories on the subject. I foresee in any warmer currents this not working after a month due to algae growth, and other plant life, regardless of what its made of. Perhaps the technology would work in the northern climates that rarely reach a temperature that is conducive to plant growth, but that’s it. Although, once in place, after the initial cost of materials and installation, to pay a snorkeling maintenance crew to do routine cleanings would be still make this a viable energy source. I admire this type of thinking and look forward to future stories on the subject.

]]> By: Mus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alternative-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-15433 Mus Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:18:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alt-energy/#comment-15433 I'm also skeptical. About the only place I could see this being used without it affecting the environment too much would be in the open ocean. Maybe that floating island by google could use it? I’m also skeptical. About the only place I could see this being used without it affecting the environment too much would be in the open ocean. Maybe that floating island by google could use it?

]]> By: Luke http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alternative-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-15408 Luke Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:38:27 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alt-energy/#comment-15408 Yeah I also do not see how it could be "easy on aquatic wildlife". It would seem that barnicals, algae, or fish could ubstruct the VIVACE. Just because something is slow moving doesnt mean it isn't harmful take for instance a machine to compact pavement, they are slow but they are harmful. Yeah I also do not see how it could be “easy on aquatic wildlife”. It would seem that barnicals, algae, or fish could ubstruct the VIVACE. Just because something is slow moving doesnt mean it isn’t harmful take for instance a machine to compact pavement, they are slow but they are harmful.

]]> By: Kasey http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alternative-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-15378 Kasey Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:39:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alt-energy/#comment-15378 I am unsure about Bernitsas claims that "new technology would be easy on aquatic wildlife". Looking at the image (that shows a fairly large field of the VIVACE device laid on some substrate), I am concerned about the response of benthic organisms to such a change in habitat availability and complexity. I am unsure about Bernitsas claims that “new technology would be easy on aquatic wildlife”. Looking at the image (that shows a fairly large field of the VIVACE device laid on some substrate), I am concerned about the response of benthic organisms to such a change in habitat availability and complexity.

]]> By: Mark McKenna http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alternative-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-15370 Mark McKenna Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:15:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/03/small-underwater-currents-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-alt-energy/#comment-15370 When you say, "not quite as cheap as nuclear" are you leaving out the enormous cost of handling nuclear waste and decommissioning the plants after twenty or thirty years? Probably. Everyone does. Mark McKenna When you say, “not quite as cheap as nuclear” are you leaving out the enormous cost of handling nuclear waste and decommissioning the plants after twenty or thirty years?

Probably. Everyone does.

Mark McKenna

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