The fast-flowing Mozambique current off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal may hold the key to an unlimited supply of electricity to meet South Africa's growing energy needs.
This is according to Eskom's Resource and Strategy managing director, Steve Lennon.
Lennon told Weekend Argus that Eskom scientists were investigating harnessing the powerful current to generate electricity.
"The topography of the coast offers a great opportunity. The continental shelf is quite close to the shore. The Mozambique current flows over the edge of the continental shelf and it could be possible to place turbines on the edge of the shelf.
"The powerful current would continue driving the turbines that would generate electricity.
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"Some people may think this is a whacky idea, but it is nothing of the sort. Off the coast of the US scientists are researching the use of tides to generate electricity."
Lennon said the topography of the sea floor off the Western Cape was different from that of the ocean floor off KwaZulu-Natal and it would not be possible to use the Agulhas current to generate power.
"The undersea topography off the Western Cape is different, while the continental shelf is also much deeper and further out to sea."
Lennon said there was a drive to meet growing electricity demand, and many countries were looking at energy resources alternative to non-renewable resources, including wind, solar and water energy.
"Essentially there are three ways to tap energy from sea. We can utilise wave action, but the variables are too great on our coast with stormy and calm conditions.
Also our tidal differences mean there is no solution here. In our case the Mozambique current - a current that is powerful and consistent - offers a prospect to generate continuous and virtually unlimited power. Only time will tell whether we can successfully harness the energy."
willemst@incape.co.za
- This article was originally published on page 1 of Sunday Argus on July 23, 2006
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