Blue Energy – The Wave of the Future

Blue energy is the process of capturing the energy of the seas to benefit the eight billion people on the planet by providing low-cost, environmentally safe electricity. Blue Energy is the next wave of sustainable energy for the future. Developing new innovation in this sector is Renewable Ocean Energy, Inc. which is excited to announce the development of renewable hydroelectric ocean energy.

Renewable Ocean Energy, Inc.’s renewable hydroelectric ocean energy harnesses the power of the sea to provide clean, sustainable power for communities all over the world. Richard Navarro, CEO of Renewable Ocean Energy, Inc. outlines his views on how to use the ocean’s waters to produce cost-effective energy in a sustainable and eco-friendly way.

The OGM: What is blue energy?

Richard Navarro: Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water and the Earth is called the “Blue Planet”. Until now, no one has determined how to use all that water to produce cost-effective energy. So Blue Energy is the process of capturing the energy of the seas to benefit the eight billion people on the planet by providing low-cost, environmentally safe electricity.

Many companies are working to address this issue using technology that ranges from ocean temperature inversion to wave or current flow, but none are cost-effective. As Hannah Daly, from the International Energy Agency, stated, “…electrification must be affordable, or it is not sustainable.” Our Poseidon and Neptune Hydroelectric Systems do this cost-effectively with a production cost of fewer than 3 cents USD in freshwater or five cents USD in salt water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without sun, wind, waves, tides, currents, dams, or batteries. Both systems use technology that has been proven for hundreds of years and assembled in a new way to provide safe, cost-effective renewable energy.

The OGM: What’s your vision for a sustainable future?

Richard Navarro: A sustainable future is the provision of energy for all of Earth’s people to live healthier and be more productive without harm to the environment or Earth creatures (birds, fish, marine life) at an affordable cost. Our systems allow the generation of reliable power without impacting the environment, sea life, or the planet. Sustainable power means it is safe, cost-effective, accessible to all, does no harm, and is there when you need it.

Our better solution is a constant, energy source without sun, wind, special distributive circuits, or batteries that works with the current grid system. Hydro is the most reliable form of power and we made it better! No dam means we do not flood the land or cause downstream flooding. We do not need rainfall for power 24 hours a day 7 days a week for less than 5 cents a kWh on 70% of the Earth’s surface on a boat, oil platform, or onshore. Best of all, the artist’s rendition of a Poseidon Power Plant allows placement near population centers without disturbing the neighbors!

The OGM: In the most simple terms – How does your system create Renewable Ocean Energy (in 1 or 2 paragraphs)

Richard Navarro: Poseidon Hydroelectric lifts water from the source using a siphon. To start the siphon requires energy from wind, sun, or other sources; however, once started, this energy source is turned off as the siphon will operate indefinitely without these external sources of power. Neptune Hydroelectric sources the water below the surface of the water without a siphon but both deliver the water to a hydraulic ram pump that pressurizes the water to the equivalent of a 49.8 m or 162 ft dam to drive multiple hydroelectric generators. Once the water reaches the top of the siphon pipe, gravity directs it down through a pipe and accelerates the mass of the water to develop kinetic energy. The hydraulic ram captures and multiplies that kinetic energy as it forces the water into a pressure tank to control the flow to the generators.

The “hammer effect” of the ram uses the kinetic energy of the flowing water as the flow is abruptly stopped and forced to reverse within the pipe. This results in tremendous pressure within the system. Ram pumps have been verified to work continuously for 150 years as the flow and reversal of the water flow will operate indefinitely as long as there is a source of water. Most hydraulic rams waste most of the water but our proprietary system uses all the water to operate multiple generators at the same time as the “traditional wastewater” is captured and pressurized before being delivered to another generator. Marine filters, pressure dissipators, and noise attenuators allow the devices to work without harming fish or the environment.

The OGM: Where do you see the opportunities for clean energy and oceans in the future?

Richard Navarro: The world has not even begun to tap the vast power of the ocean so this is the major growth industry for renewable energy that will provide carbon and nuclear radiation-free power at an affordable price. Both Poseidon and Neptune are aesthetically and acoustically acceptable, so power may be generated as needed to meet consumer demand near population centers and delivered directly to the grid to reduce costs and ensure reliable power when you need it. Over 40% of Earth’s population lives within one hundred kilometers of the coast and this is where the energy need is greatest but is also the area most vulnerable to rising sea levels.

Our systems can operate from any water source (pond, lake, river, or ocean) that has enough water, and most major cities are located near a source of water. It is possible to locate and operate a reliable source of power where the power need is greatest. In contrast to other power renewable energy platforms, Poseidon and Neptune are aesthetically acceptable and safe for other life forms without the need for costly and potentially hazardous batteries. Neither Poseidon nor Neptune consumes the water as all water is safely returned to the source and does not disrupt downstream water flow or interrupt fish migration. The absence of a dam resolves environmental issues such as flooding.

The OGM: How do you think governments and industry can support renewable ocean energy.

Richard Navarro: The first thing governments and industries must do is to open their minds to the innovative technology in hydropower. This is especially true in the USA where there has been no new hydropower in over 30 years due to environmental and marine life issues. In other countries, hydropower is active and present but aged plants with faltering dams have potential risks of catastrophic consequences. Hydropower has a history of disrupting downstream water flow that can create local and international conflicts such as in China, Egypt, and Ethiopia. This bias impacts many governmental programs ranging from funding to approvals of innovative technology that include renewable ocean energy.

When most people talk about renewable energy, they are thinking about solar and wind which have incredibly low efficiency and excessive costs as they require storage batteries to accommodate for the low productivity and distributive energy systems to avoid destruction to the grid. Re-alignment of the concept of renewable energy to a more efficient and cost-effective platform is critical.

The OGM: Why do you believe renewable ocean energy is key.

Richard Navarro: “KISS” is a useful acronym as it means “Keep it simple, stupid.” Most government and industry specialists are looking for complex and expensive solutions, e.g., hydrogen fuel cells. Renewable ocean energy is simple, low cost, and environmentally safe, with hundreds of options for applications around the world. Forty percent of the entire Earth’s population lives within 100 km of the coast so energy can be more accessible and delivered at a lower cost than anything else. Connecting that power to the present grid system without creating risks to the grid adds to the overall cost-efficiency. When we add the possibility of converting diesel power on ships or oil platforms, the growth becomes exponential. Renewable ocean energy is carbon and radiation-free.