A mammoth rogue wave off Ucluelet害羞草研究所檚 coast has brought dreams of wielding the ocean害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所渕ost extreme rogue wave ever recorded.害羞草研究所�
The wave came to light as the subject of a
害羞草研究所淧roportionally, the Ucluelet wave is likely the most extreme rogue wave ever recorded,害羞草研究所� Gemmrich said through a media release. 害羞草研究所淥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.害羞草研究所�
It was recorded by one of 26 sensor buoys MarineLabs has installed across North America as part of the company害羞草研究所檚 CoastAware platform, according to the release.
害羞草研究所淭he unpredictability of rogue waves, and the sheer power of these 害羞草研究所榳alls of water害羞草研究所� can make them incredibly dangerous to marine operations and the public,害羞草研究所� said MarineLabs CEO Dr. Scott Beatty. 害羞草研究所淭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.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淲e are aiming to improve safety and decision-making for marine operations and coastal communities through widespread measurement of the world害羞草研究所檚 coastlines,害羞草研究所� Beatty said.
害羞草研究所淐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.害羞草研究所�
Geoff Lyons, who served as Ucluelet害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所� MarineLabs (@MarineLabs_hq)
Lyons recalled BC Hydro looking into the feasibility of wave energy in Ucluelet in 2000, but suggested Hydro害羞草研究所檚 focus was heavily committed to establishing its Site C dam at the time.
害羞草研究所淭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,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e were promoting Ucluelet as the wave energy capital of Canada害羞草研究所he Bay of Fundy has got it害羞草研究所檚 tides, but we害羞草研究所檝e got waves that could generate electricity.害羞草研究所�
He said Carnegie Energy representatives came to Ucluelet to test the wave strength, but decided to pursue an opportunity in Australia instead.
害羞草研究所淭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,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚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害羞草研究所檚 the option of putting in more and then backfeeding into the BC Hydro system so that we could sell it.害羞草研究所�
He said wave technology has made 害羞草研究所済reat leaps害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淲e just couldn害羞草研究所檛 get any traction from people,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎t the moment, we can害羞草研究所檛 find a proponent to come in and test it.害羞草研究所�
He hopes Ucluelet害羞草研究所檚 municipal council will lobby for more opportunities to develop wave energy.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 like to think that it could be back on the table as a completely viable source. It害羞草研究所檚 far more reliable than solar or wind because the waves keep coming, they don害羞草研究所檛 take quiet days and they don害羞草研究所檛 go away when the sun sets,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t would be a great opportunity for Ucluelet害羞草研究所 honestly believe it害羞草研究所檚 something that Ucluelet should seriously pursue and I害羞草研究所檓 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害羞草研究所檇 like to see a wave energy project happen as well.害羞草研究所�
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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