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Re-Purposing the Netherlands' Dike System For Power Generation

Posted by timothy on from the let's-go-dutch dept.

vikingpower writes "Built in reaction to a major flood that killed 1,800 in the '50s, the Dutch system of dikes, sluices, surge barriers, and dams has been dubbed 'one of the seven wonders of the modern world' by the American Society of Engineers. Now there are proposals to use the system differently, e.g. as tidal power plants, by punching holes in them. Any civil engineer's mouth will probably be watering when thinking of the mega-projects this could give rise to."

2 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. This reminds me of a related idea.. by jcr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Some years ago, I saw a news item on a proposal to flood the sahara by digging a canal through Libya, and powering pretty much all of North Africa and Southern Europe with electricity generated by turbines in the canals. As I recall, it was supposed to drop the world sea level by about a foot or so.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  2. Re:Dear Editor by mpe · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Are you really unaware that in US English, the language in which this website is published, dike means what you hold water back with, and dyke means lesbian?

    A better US Translation might be "levee"...