For over 200 years, producing eco-friendly energy has been an ongoing thought in the back of many heads. However, during the oil crisis in the 1970’s, researchers and investors knew they had to find an alternative energy source before fossil fuel energy would be depleted. Over the next decade, three types of marine renewable energy were developed; Wave Energy, Ocean Thermal Energy, and Tidal Turbine Energy. One of the most harmful devices, tidal turbine energy, has presented an everlasting threat to marine ecosystems, causing thousands of animal deaths, and disturbing habitats. Tidal turbine energy also contributes to the large amount of noise pollution, disrupting migrations, altering ocean currents and wave size, and even affecting the multibillion dollar fishing industry. Marine Renewable Energy does not only affect the ocean, but also bank accounts. To build one tidal turbine energy device can cost anywhere from 3 to 15 million dollars. This can leave investors either broke or wealthy. Since renewable energy now is present in our daily lives, finding an even more sustainable energy source is crucial, and will help eliminate climate change in the future.
Throughout the past few months, we looked into many sustainable energy projects and there were many options, but only one stood out to us; tidal turbine energy. Tidal turbine energy is currently one of the most harmful devices to our ecosystems because of how easily it can destroy marine life. This kind of energy looks like a big fan underwater, similar to a windmill. We wanted to improve a project that already existed, to help further eliminate the effects of climate change and provide a better earth to future generations. Our goal is to make an improved design of a tidal turbine device, and protect animals and ecosystems around it.
Before even doing any research on our project we decided that we wanted to create the best Marine Renewable Energy device there is. So, we decided to use the safest and most sustainable materials there is to create an improved Marine Renewable Energy device. From our research we have found that carbon fiber composites and titanium alloys are the best materials to use because of their sustainability and low cost. Another factor that we will be using in our design to help keep animals away from our devices is the color palette we use. From our extensive research, we have learned that green, gray, and orange are the best colors to repel sea life, so of course we will be painting our Turbines these colors. As we are creating Throughout the process of researching tidal turbine energy, one of our main questions was "how do marine energy sources affect ecosystems, positively and negatively, and how can they help end climate change?” Marine renewable energy is an important part of daily life, it helps power many large cities, and has many positive effects on our earth. However, with good things come negative things too. Marine renewable energy negatively affects habitats, animals, and human daily life. As we design our prototype, we attempt to eliminate the negative effects to create the most sustainable energy source there is, that will help bring our world into the future.