Marine Renewables and Ancillary Industries

by Carolyn Elefant on May 11, 2009

Coralreef

The potential for the marine renewables technologies to eventually spawn ancillary industries and economic growth in related sectors continues to captivate my imagination. Imagine, floating data centers or wave-powered desalinization facilities or other hybrid uses.

This past week, I came across two potential cross-over marine renewables applications.  The first, via CDiver.net suggests that marine renewables will be a boon for the shipping industry, since vessels are needed to spread power cables for wind farms and also haul components out to sea.  Said Subocean’s operations director, Mike Daniel:

Demand for vessels in marine renewables remains high. By securing the Polar Prince on a long-term charter, we are in a prime position to meet the needs of renewable energy companies.

We continue to win work in the marine renewable sector and are investing significantly in vessels and specialist equipment to maintain our market-leading position and ensure delivery on time and on budget for all our clients in a sector which is noticeably picking up pace.

An example of a second and far less intuitive use for marine renewables comes via Clean Technica.  The post reports on Swell Fuel’s wave powered electric technology and notes that the technology “may prove [an] ideal provider of the the low-voltage charge that seems to help coral reefs regenerate.”

According to Planet Save.com, ongoing research suggests that coral reef growth may be stimulated by low power electricity, however, the concept remains under further study.

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