xxxxx - 6-8-2007 at 11:22
salter's ducks are a wavepower electrical generation device. demonstration models produced electricity from waves at 80% efficiency, however no
practical working models have been made. obviously these could be useful in areas with ocean coastlines. could someone tell why a practicall working
model of salter's ducks are not presently in use around the world.
tumadre - 6-8-2007 at 12:59
How do you define practical working model?
In my 5 minute google search, it looks like it is cost effective.
At 5 cents/kilowatt hour.
And that means Mr. coal is out of business 
current issues: mooring lines, maintenance, and water rights.
in todays CO2 credit environment, I don't see why it didn't catch on.
Xenoid - 6-8-2007 at 13:18
In my 5 minute Google search, I found this;
"One of the difficulties is that wave devices can be smashed in storms or by occasional waves that are much larger than average. Making a device
strong enough to withstand extreme conditions adds substantially to the cost."
These devices are a mechanical nightmare, and do not scale up well - there are problems with friction, material strengths, corrosion and maintenance,
to name just a few!
Xenoid
[Edited on 6-8-2007 by Xenoid]
Twospoons - 6-8-2007 at 22:25
http://www.oceanpd.com/default.html
I only know about this as it was in my local paper. Seems New Zealand (where I live) also has ideal offshore conditions for the Pelamis device.
So wave power is by no means dead in the water.