Developed By Saga University, This Coastal Energy System Has Consistently Provided Electricity For A Coastal Community Of Over 30,000 Residents For 18 Months
According to a Facebook Post by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Japan has developed a reliable, clean electricity generation and distribution system for coastal cities through the use of Energy Buoys which operate in water.
Off the coast of Saga Prefecture which is located in the northwest of Kyushu, the southwesternmost of Japan’s main islands, 200 energy buoys were deployed which generated clean reliable electricity for over 30,000 residents, consistently for 18 months. This initiative was undertaken by Saga University.
The consistent baseload of energy is ensured since wave energy is unaffected by weather or season. Each buoy is able to able to harness wave motion, driving turbine that generates 8.5 MW. This reliable power not only meets peak demand but also provides ample reserve capacity.
As Japan leads the sustainable energy innovation through harnessing of wave energy, it is time for developed countries like Japan to replicate the process and to scale the innovation into practicality for large coastal cities.
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