The Forces At Sea Can Power The Planet
If only Blah, Blah, Blah doesn't prevent it from happening...
Sailors know better than most the power of wind and wave. Most of us have experienced a humbling awe (and, it’s okay to admit, a little fear) when the wind starts to howl and the waves get big and steep. So when the world goes nuts over a sailing drone sending back video from the heart of Hurricane Sam, I have to admit I was like “Meh, about what I would expect it to look like.” (Though I definitely think Saildrone itself is very cool).
What I do get excited about, however, is the growing realization that all the forces we are familiar with at sea can power the planet. Wave power, to give one recent example, is showing increasing promise as a legitimate source of renewable energy:
Researchers in Australia and China have developed a prototype technology that they believe can double the power harvested from ocean waves. In laboratory tests they report that they have been successful at increasing the power drawn from the ocean with a design that is simpler and less cost-intensive to deploy. If successful in a full-scale model test, the researchers believe that their technology could be the key to the commercialization of power generation from ocean waves.
Wind, sun, waves, tides. Sailors deal with these forces constantly, and intuitively understand how much potential they all have to replace hydrocarbons with renewable energy sources. For a few centuries, oil and coal have been cheap and convenient, so it is not surprising that they became dominant energy sources (or that we are addicted to them). But now that we fully understand how flawed they are, and the existential threat combusting carbon poses to the planet, humanity needs to make an extremely rapid transition away from oil and coal toward renewable sources.
If there is skepticism that the planet’s energy requirements can be met with wind, solar, wave and tidal energy, the skeptics should speak with sailors. Sailors know it is possible, and any sailor who wants can easily enough—with technologies existing right now—achieve zero carbon power generation on a vessel (which is my aim for the voyaging boat I am hoping is in my immediate future). In fact, to sailors (or at least this sailor), it is inexplicable that we have neglected tapping into these infinitely renewable and abundant sources of energy for so long. I can easily see a future where some combination of these renewable sources—depending on what is most practical and efficient for a given situation or location—is powering everything we do. My only fear is that we will be too cautious and complacent, or that the political power of the coal, gas and oil industry will prove too durable, to get there quickly enough.
Blah, Blah, Blah: In that regard, I can’t resist posting this clip from a recent Greta Thunberg speech. Why is it that a teenage girl has the most courage and clarity when it comes to confronting humanity over its failures to respond to climate change? It is hard to say, but I am glad she does. “Blah, blah, blah” perfectly captures the pathetic, distracted, dilatory, equivocal global response—at least so far—to an urgent, ongoing existential threat to the well being of everyone, and every species, on the planet. Preach it, Greta. We need moral clarity. We need conviction. We need urgency.
Well, Hello There: There are so many examples of what is at stake, and why our planet is so extraordinary. Just look at this gentle and curious interaction between a Southern Right Whale and possibly the most thrilled (or most paralyzed) paddleboarder in history (also, a perfect example of my belief that all ocean encounters should be carbon-combustion free!). I can’t see something like this without feeling a profound desire to protect that whale and the ocean it relies on.
Moment Of Zen: I’ll leave you with one more image of a majestic creature whose life is being deeply affected by climate change and the changing ocean. It comes from my friends on the sailing vessel Barba, who have been cruising winter Arctic waters for a few years now, to document the species that are there and how they are being impacted by humanity. I especially love the surprised kittiwake who gets blasted by a powerful blue whale exhalation. (Click on image for the live action).
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