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Wave Power Fails To Live Up To Promise

Posted by Soulskill on from the water-under-the-bridge dept.

the_newsbeagle writes: One of the leading companies developing wave power devices, Ocean Power Technologies, has dramatically scaled down its ambitions. The company had planned to install the world's first commercial-scale wave farms off the coast of Australia and Oregon, but has now announced that it's ending those projects. Instead it will focus on developing next-gen devices. Apparently the economics of wave power just don't make sense yet.

14 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. Nelson says: by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ha! Ha!

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  2. Golden opportunity missed... by TiggertheMad · · Score: 5, Funny

    "A spokesperson for Ocean Power Technologies announced, that after a number of years of testing and development efforts, that Wave farms are a wash."

    *ducks* *runs*

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    1. Re:Golden opportunity missed... by slinches · · Score: 4, Funny

      Oh, darn. We must be on different wavelengths. Last I heard, they were doing swell.

      I guess these sorts of things just ebb and flow with the economic tides.

      --
      Knowledge Brings Fear
    2. Re:Golden opportunity missed... by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 3, Funny

      I don't get it.

      Could you explain that some more? Explaining jokes always make them funnier.

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      Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
    3. Re:Golden opportunity missed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Could you explain that some more? Explaining jokes always make them funnier.

      A note for the humor impaired: The above is using what is termed irony and sarcasm, and the poster is actually giving criticism.

      Next week, we will cover metaphors. And by metaphors, I mean big tits.

    4. Re:Golden opportunity missed... by Inzkeeper · · Score: 5, Funny

      It looks like we will need to find a more feasible way to generate electricity from water, dam it.

    5. Re:Golden opportunity missed... by Pope · · Score: 3, Funny

      As always, the truth is in the middle.

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      It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
    6. Re:Golden opportunity missed... by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 4, Funny

      I was thinking of huge tracts of land.

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      Time to offend someone
    7. Re:Golden opportunity missed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Oh, dam.

      FTFY

    8. Re:Golden opportunity missed... by StripedCow · · Score: 2, Funny

      The problem with wave farms is that they harness the gravitational power between Earth and the Moon.
      If this energy is dissipated, this gravitational force is reduced, and as a consequence, the Moon will move towards the Earth in an increased pace.

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      If Pandora's box is destined to be opened, *I* want to be the one to open it.
  3. Re:Lots of problems with it by Charliemopps · · Score: 1, Funny

    So, you want to install a "Wave harnessing device" on a boat who's primary mission is to stay moored in the same place without moving despite wind and waves? You don't see a problem with that?

    It'd be the equivalent of mounting a windmill to a blimp.

  4. Re:When doing anything involving the ocean by dcollins117 · · Score: 4, Funny

    They had found the boat, dangling underwater by the chains holding it to the dock pilings.

    Find out what the chains are made of - you'll be all set :)

  5. Re:Mechanical stresses ... by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 3, Funny

    dry wave power=wind

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    SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
  6. Re:Oregon... by ColdWetDog · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just use the extra electricity to power giant air conditioners to counteract global warming.

    See, that was easy. Just start thinking in terms of larger systems.

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    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!