Ocean Stream Power Generation: Unlocking a Source of Vast, Continuous, Renewable Energy

This paper presents the challenges of harnessing the immense continuous kinetic energy of the flowing ocean currents. This kinetic energy has been known for centuries, but to date, no economical installation has been established that provides a continuous renewable power source to a land based power grid system. Discussed are the actions that have been taken to develop a submerged ocean system with a workable propeller. A completed scale model performance test was carried out in the sea making this system a technical readiness level TRL 7. The paper identifies some of the obvious high kinetic energy ocean locations near populated shore lines that make continuous renewable energy possible and practical.