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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."

5 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. now now now... by racecarj · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    let's be serious, if we're talking about power generation it all depends on the types of dykes being used. and there are trade offs... while butch dykes certainly generate more power, girly ones are more pleasing overall. i think the dutch should go with a combination of the latter combined with nuclear power.

    1. Re:now now now... by arjan_t · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Ever seen a Dutch woman? The average ones aren't really small and certainly not girly. The Dutch dykes were build to last :P

  2. Can I watch? by Google85 · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    while they "generate power"?!

    It sounds like a good idea.. but might get really hot... how do they propose to cool that?

  3. I dunno... by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I thought being a dyke was not a choice. I don't think the dykes are likely to go along with being re-purposed.
    Just in case I'm wrong though, you can send me a couple of the lipstick ones and I promise to generate a lot energy with them.

    --
    When information is power, privacy is freedom.
  4. the dyke system? by roman_mir · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    So some 'civil' engineers think that dykes can generate all that power?

    Maybe the same should be suggested to the mayor of Toronto, imagine all the power they could generate there during a pride week!

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    You can't handle the truth.