A mammoth rogue wave off Ucluelet含羞草研究社檚 coast has brought dreams of wielding the ocean含羞草研究社檚 power as an alternative energy source crashing back into the spotlight.
The 17.6 metre rogue wave was recorded off Amphitrite Bank near Ucuelet in November 2020 by MarineLabs Data Systems, which believes it is the 含羞草研究社渕ost extreme rogue wave ever recorded.含羞草研究社�
The wave came to light as the subject of a
含羞草研究社淧roportionally, the Ucluelet wave is likely the most extreme rogue wave ever recorded,含羞草研究社� Gemmrich said through a media release. 含羞草研究社淥nly a few rogue waves in high sea states have been observed directly, and nothing of this magnitude. The probability of such an event occurring is once in 1,300 years.含羞草研究社�
It was recorded by one of 26 sensor buoys MarineLabs has installed across North America as part of the company含羞草研究社檚 CoastAware platform, according to the release.
含羞草研究社淭he unpredictability of rogue waves, and the sheer power of these 含羞草研究社榳alls of water含羞草研究社� can make them incredibly dangerous to marine operations and the public,含羞草研究社� said MarineLabs CEO Dr. Scott Beatty. 含羞草研究社淭he potential of predicting rogue waves remains an open question, but our data is helping to better understand when, where and how rogue waves form, and the risks that they pose.含羞草研究社�
MarineLabs plans to more than double its CoastAware program this year and expects to have over 70 sensor buoys in place by the end of 2022.
含羞草研究社淲e are aiming to improve safety and decision-making for marine operations and coastal communities through widespread measurement of the world含羞草研究社檚 coastlines,含羞草研究社� Beatty said.
含羞草研究社淐apturing this once-in-a-millennium wave, right in our backyard, is a thrilling indicator of the power of coastal intelligence to transform marine safety.含羞草研究社�
Geoff Lyons, who served as Ucluelet含羞草研究社檚 CAO from 2002-2009 and as a municipal councillor from 2011-2014, has and hopes the rogue wave report renews local interest in the potential power supply.
Congrats to ! We are excited to be providing super high resolution real-time data for their Ocean Wave Energy project.
含羞草研究社� MarineLabs (@MarineLabs_hq)
Lyons recalled BC Hydro looking into the feasibility of wave energy in Ucluelet in 2000, but suggested Hydro含羞草研究社檚 focus was heavily committed to establishing its Site C dam at the time.
含羞草研究社淭hey changed their mind and decided they were focusing on Site C, so we lost the ability for Hydro to subsidize this, but we were so excited we decided to try to get someone to come in independently,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淲e were promoting Ucluelet as the wave energy capital of Canada含羞草研究社he Bay of Fundy has got it含羞草研究社檚 tides, but we含羞草研究社檝e got waves that could generate electricity.含羞草研究社�
He said Carnegie Energy representatives came to Ucluelet to test the wave strength, but decided to pursue an opportunity in Australia instead.
含羞草研究社淭hey had a device which was basically anchored to the seabed and floating around slightly submerged and it went up and down on a hydraulic cylinder basis and produced energy going up and going down,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t was an area about the size of two soccer fields, which would generate two to three kilowatts, which I think would be enough to suffice for Ucluelet and then there含羞草研究社檚 the option of putting in more and then backfeeding into the BC Hydro system so that we could sell it.含羞草研究社�
He said wave technology has made 含羞草研究社済reat leaps含羞草研究社� since then and that University of Victoria researchers have installed several buoys in local waters to monitor the energy potential, but investors and sufficient government support have been tough to attract.
含羞草研究社淲e just couldn含羞草研究社檛 get any traction from people,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淎t the moment, we can含羞草研究社檛 find a proponent to come in and test it.含羞草研究社�
He hopes Ucluelet含羞草研究社檚 municipal council will lobby for more opportunities to develop wave energy.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檇 like to think that it could be back on the table as a completely viable source. It含羞草研究社檚 far more reliable than solar or wind because the waves keep coming, they don含羞草研究社檛 take quiet days and they don含羞草研究社檛 go away when the sun sets,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t would be a great opportunity for Ucluelet含羞草研究社 honestly believe it含羞草研究社檚 something that Ucluelet should seriously pursue and I含羞草研究社檓 quite happy to donate my free time to help anybody who wants to do it. I fought for 20 years and we did that; I含羞草研究社檇 like to see a wave energy project happen as well.含羞草研究社�
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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