Africa’s Coastal Waters Hold Untapped Electricity Potential in Strong Ocean Currents
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📰 The quick summary: African coastal waters, particularly off Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar, possess some of the world’s strongest ocean currents that could be harnessed to generate reliable renewable electricity for millions of households.
📈 One key stat: Coastal areas in Africa have power densities ranging from 500 to 2,500 watts per square meter, enough for each square meter to power an average small South African household that uses 730 watts.
💬 One key quote: “Marine energy is much more predictable and reliable than many other forms of renewable energy because unlike sun and wind, which regularly do not produce electricity, ocean currents never stop moving around the planet.”
1️⃣ The big picture: Ocean currents contain substantial kinetic energy that can be converted into electricity using turbines floating at or below the ocean’s surface. Recent research has identified that the eastern and southeastern coasts of Africa have some of the world’s strongest currents, making them prime locations for ocean energy production. Using 30 years of water velocity data from drifting buoys, researchers calculated the energy density of ocean areas worldwide. Their findings reveal that waters off Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, and South Africa have exceptionally high energy potential that could be tapped for renewable electricity generation.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The ocean current energy discovered near African coasts provides a remarkably reliable power source compared to solar or wind energy, as these currents flow constantly. Many of these high-energy areas are relatively close to shore, with some strong currents found in waters as shallow as 100 meters deep off South Africa, Somalia, Kenya, and Madagascar, making them more accessible for energy development. Each square meter of harnessed ocean current could potentially power an average small household in South Africa. This untapped renewable resource could significantly reduce African nations’ dependence on fossil fuels while providing a predictable energy source that operates 24/7, addressing climate change concerns.
3️⃣ What’s next: Project developers, communities, or electric companies need to establish businesses to attract investment for ocean current energy initiatives. More detailed measurements of specific current locations will help determine optimal turbine placement. Engineers must solve the technical challenges of setting up systems in offshore environments, including developing effective connections to shore power grids.
Read the full story here: The Conversation – Ocean currents can generate electricity – and our study shows Africa’s seas have some of the strongest
