A mammoth rogue wave off UclueletB次元官网网址檚 coast has brought dreams of wielding the oceanB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址渕ost extreme rogue wave ever recorded.B次元官网网址�
The wave came to light as the subject of a
B次元官网网址淧roportionally, the Ucluelet wave is likely the most extreme rogue wave ever recorded,B次元官网网址� Gemmrich said through a media release. B次元官网网址淥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.B次元官网网址�
It was recorded by one of 26 sensor buoys MarineLabs has installed across North America as part of the companyB次元官网网址檚 CoastAware platform, according to the release.
B次元官网网址淭he unpredictability of rogue waves, and the sheer power of these B次元官网网址榳alls of waterB次元官网网址� can make them incredibly dangerous to marine operations and the public,B次元官网网址� said MarineLabs CEO Dr. Scott Beatty. B次元官网网址淭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.B次元官网网址�
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.
B次元官网网址淲e are aiming to improve safety and decision-making for marine operations and coastal communities through widespread measurement of the worldB次元官网网址檚 coastlines,B次元官网网址� Beatty said.
B次元官网网址淐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.B次元官网网址�
Geoff Lyons, who served as UclueletB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址� MarineLabs (@MarineLabs_hq)
Lyons recalled BC Hydro looking into the feasibility of wave energy in Ucluelet in 2000, but suggested HydroB次元官网网址檚 focus was heavily committed to establishing its Site C dam at the time.
B次元官网网址淭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,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e were promoting Ucluelet as the wave energy capital of CanadaB次元官网网址he Bay of Fundy has got itB次元官网网址檚 tides, but weB次元官网网址檝e got waves that could generate electricity.B次元官网网址�
He said Carnegie Energy representatives came to Ucluelet to test the wave strength, but decided to pursue an opportunity in Australia instead.
B次元官网网址淭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,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚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 thereB次元官网网址檚 the option of putting in more and then backfeeding into the BC Hydro system so that we could sell it.B次元官网网址�
He said wave technology has made B次元官网网址済reat leapsB次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淲e just couldnB次元官网网址檛 get any traction from people,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎t the moment, we canB次元官网网址檛 find a proponent to come in and test it.B次元官网网址�
He hopes UclueletB次元官网网址檚 municipal council will lobby for more opportunities to develop wave energy.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to think that it could be back on the table as a completely viable source. ItB次元官网网址檚 far more reliable than solar or wind because the waves keep coming, they donB次元官网网址檛 take quiet days and they donB次元官网网址檛 go away when the sun sets,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t would be a great opportunity for UclueletB次元官网网址 honestly believe itB次元官网网址檚 something that Ucluelet should seriously pursue and IB次元官网网址檓 quite happy to donate my free time to help anybody who wants to do it. I fought for 20 years and we did that; IB次元官网网址檇 like to see a wave energy project happen as well.B次元官网网址�
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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