Wave Energy Park

Oregon State University wants to plant direct drive, wave energy buoys off the coast of Oregon. How might this work? A permanent neodymium-iron-born magnet would be forced back and forth through an electric coil by the modulation of waves. The researchers suggest such buoys could power about 20% of Oregon’s electricity needs. Now that the prototypes buoys have demonstrated their potential, study is underway to consider impacts on sea birds and marine life from electromagnetic fields, construction, deployment, and servicing of undersea cable. TreeHugger