Connecting small Pacific islands to grids is expensive, solar power takes up too much space and wind turbines are not designed to withstand hurricanes. Matt Lewis may have the answer
Save time by listening to our audio articles as you multitaskSmall Pacific islands generally rely on diesel generators. Connecting them to grids is too expensive. Solar power takes up too much space. And wind turbines are not designed to withstand the hurricanes that sometimes blow through. But, as Matt Lewis of Bangor University, in Britain, told this year’s Ocean Sciences Meeting on February 28th, the answer may lie in the very geography of the islands themselves.
Lots of Pacific islands are atolls. Others, though more substantial, have fringing reefs. Both of these set ups involve lagoons separated from the ocean by the reef, yet connected to it via a number of narrow channels. The lagoons themselves are kept filled slightly above sea level by waves overtopping the reef. To Dr Lewis, this arrangement looks a lot like a hydroelectric power station, with the reef acting as the dam and the lagoon as the reservoir behind it.
To work out the details he teamed up with Ryan Lowe, an Australian oceanographer who studies the ecology of reefs and has devised a simple mathematical formula for the wave-driven outflows of lagoons.
The next step will be to do this calculation for real, for as many inhabited islands with lagoons as possible. By combining satellite images with Dr Lowe's formula, Dr Lewis reckons this should be fairly easy. He expects to find hundreds of lagoons suitable for conversion, and is already talking to firms which might be interested in developing appropriate turbines., our weekly newsletter.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline "High-water mark"
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Taiwan: Massive blackout leaves many without powerAuthorities say they are still investigating the cause of the widespread power cuts.
Read more »
Ukraine: Russian attack on nuclear power plant condemned by world leadersA fire at Europe's largest nuclear power plant after Russian shelling endangered 'all of Europe'.
Read more »
Ukraine: Russian attack on nuclear power plant condemned by world leadersA fire at Europe's largest nuclear power plant after Russian shelling endangered 'all of Europe'.
Read more »
Zelensky warns Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant could be ‘end of Europe’Putin’s military forces seize Europe’s largest nuclear power plant as fire breaks out
Read more »
How big is Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and could it be another Chernobyl?You’ve probably never heard of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant before, but it’s a giant.
Read more »
Inside Laura Anderson's emotional trip to Scotland to reunite with familyFormer Love Island star Laura Anderson has given a glimpse of her trip back to Scotland after jetting from her home in Dubai
Read more »