The Real Deal #16

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Welcome to the (one day late 🤦 ) Real Deal - where you can read about a climate and energy newbie’s journey, figuring out how geniuses are improving the built world around us is changing as we respond and plan for a better natural one.

How did I hear about ocean turbines?

The algorithm.

Something’s go on with “the algorithm.”

My background is not climate - I (until two years ago) “do” technology in life sciences.

BUT… I believe strongly that science in all areas is the key to an advancing and thriving mankind.

A close second to science in my book, is technology. Technology is science - APPLIED. And I love watching what people do with their minds. There is so. Much. Noise.

I have seen public figures, conspiracy theorists, people who don’t like change, etc., all want to look the other way in the face of evidence that science and human ingenuity can improve our lives.

You, reading these words, are proof of this. I’m typing, and if you opened the email, there you are, reading it, wherever you are.

And because I’ve been spending so much time reading, talking, writing about - and building a business around - energy and climate, now my “algorithm” is a constant stream of insights about these things. Every outlet I have is delivering me a stream of news about EVs, climate, weather events, trash, hydrogen power… you name it.

And last week I got a random YouTube notification on my phone about ocean turbines.

(Note: You don’t “have” an algorithm. You have behaviors, and the platforms you’re on have algorithms that feed you behavior-relevant content. Don’t let language changes get too ridiculous, okay?) 🐸 

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What marine or ocean turbines are

In concept, they’re no different from a wind turbine. Just a big propeller, only underwater. But the energy generated by the water variety is far more efficient.

When I started this newsletter, there were many things I decided I would never do. I wouldn’t talk about politics. I wouldn’t degrade my prose with overused slang. I wouldn’t curse or get too far off topic.

And I also promised myself I would never research the differences between the densities of wind and water. Not literally but… I mean, I just wasn’t going to do deep-dive nerd-outs on any topic.

This only the latest example of me proving myself wrong. What I have to share with you is that air is, in fact, 830 times less dense than water.

And how this translates to today’s topic? The YouTube video I referenced above, which profiles three companies that have been building and testing ocean turbines.

Why tides matter

I’ll summarize this very briefly:

1. The moon’s gravitational pull and density causes it to pull the ocean slightly away from the earth.

2. The Earth’s rotation drives the frequency of the tides.

3. Every day, there are two high tides and two low tides.

4. Where the moon is relative to the Earth’s surface drives the tide: Water is highest where the moon’s pull is pulling it away. Conversely, the tide is lowest where the moon’s on the opposite side, also because the moon is pulling it “down” from the other side of the Earth.

So, picture the ocean as a big, loose pillow case that surrounds the globe, being pulled by the moon in different directions. In some places it’s pulled away from the Earth (high tides), and in some places it’s pulled closer (low tides).

Normally, when we’re at the beach, the tide rolls in, and out, and in, and we admire it and respect it. It seams relaxing and peaceful.

The energy required to make this happen is astoundingly powerful. And in certain parts of the world, where the ocean is confined to small places, the tidal surges of the ocean are thousands of times stronger than the flow rate of Niagara Falls.

So what are companies doing?

I suggest you to watch the YouTube video if you are interested in this. It is 2.5 hours long, but only the first hour or so is about ocean turbines. It’s a good watch, and it distills the technology into digestible bits, for people like me who don’t really understand electrical engineering or physics.

Here’s what they’re doing:

The first company profiled, Orbital Marine Power, has built water turbines, called “Orbital O2,” on a floating barge that looks sort of like a cross between a submarine and a pontoon. The apparatus is huge - hundreds of feet long - and floats on the ocean’s surface. Turbines extend into the water beneath, and can be swung back to surface level for service and repair. One of these turbines is currently being planned for an installation off the coast of Washington State.

The second company, Sustainable Marine Energy, was located in Canada, deploying a turbine that also floated and drew power from surface tidal currents. While this company seems to have fallen on financial hard times and into Canadian “administration” (aka, bankruptcy), the prospects at the time of the video’s publication were quite strong.

And Minesto, a Sweden-based company, is producing what I found to be the most interesting technology: Something called “tidal kites.” Again, when you take the concept of what the kite does when flying in far less dense air, apply it to water, massive amounts of energy can be produced. The apparatus is tethered to the ocean floor and rotates in the tidal current, feeding electricity to shore through a line attached to the tether’s base.

Benefits of this technology vs. solar or wind:

1. More constant. When the currents run (which tidal currents always do), these technologies are easier to incorporate into the grid.

2. Far higher capacity. Due to the aforementioned density of water, any resistance against it will create massive amounts of power.

3. Predictable capacity. Unlike wind and solar, which vary, energy supply can be accurately forecast with these technologies.

How do these companies make money?

Investment in more capacity from power companies. Any energy company who wants to sell power into the grid can leverage this tech to make money. The investments are huge; the financial payback can be astounding, if the delivered product is low-maintenance, resilient, and dependable.

On a personal note, I wanted to mention that this is an absolute joy for me. We had recent contact with Professor Richard Lopez at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).

I’d like to share more about his background when the time is right, but for now I wanted to mention that the willingness to advise and help, support, and advice he and others like him have provided are invaluable. I appreciate your ongoing readership, and I want to leave you with this LinkedIn post I saw today.

With all my corporate middle-management experience and now, this transition into entrepreneurship, I know that I have found my place.

When our launch is done, I am confident we will impact the climate and energy space and “advanced the ball.” Please stick with us as we continue this journey. And please refer people!

Peace and thank you! Ikigai!