The results of the global experiment to find the most
efficient technique to generate electricity using renewable energy sources are
in, and are based on geographic locations; where the driving sources are most
accessible. Electricity to power an equivalent amount of homes, offices and
industries: Solar panels, engineered to capture the sun light and charge salt particles
as battery storage for around the clock supply, proves to be the most efficient
method to generate the needed mega watts (MW) of electricity in a desert location.
Geothermal, dry or flash stream or binary cycle, power stations, can efficiently
generate thousands of MW in locations surrounding the heat well source. Wind
turbines located in hills and mountain ranges were wind speeds are high, can accurately
generate the required MW of electricity. And Tidal ocean turbines positioned along coastlines of small island states can effectively generate sufficient MW
for the whole island.
Such small island nations, for example in the Caribbean
region, an archipelago of islands; whose economic zones consist of more sea
than land, is ideal for tidal turbines, position in its waters. Currents caused
by the effects of the moon's gravitational pull on the oceans, have always produced
two daily tides, high and low, upon such coastlines, resulting in kinetic
energy, which can be captured to drive the turbines blades and generate
electricity. This supply requires no additional modifications; to monitor,
transform and distribute, and its renewable source is so much more dependable.
Hence turbines, similar in size and output to wind driven generators can be
adapted to work underwater, driven by these tidal motions.
Tidal turbines anchored to the sea bed and blended into the
ocean's ecology; not to disrupt tourist diving, ocean freight, or damage the
fish stock, the coral and sea plant life, with scheduled routine maintenance,
to minimize environmental impact and protect the reliability of electricity
supply. Such an underwater farm of generators will also free up very valuable
and limited land space on such island nations. This also seems to be a very
practical way to meet and surpass a self imposed target of generating over 20%
of electricity needs from renewable energy by the year 2020.
Allowing the existing power generation plants to live out
its useful operating life, in many cases 10 to 30 years, may not be the best
decision for the environment or for the nation's budget. The weakness of solar
technology is its storage mechanisms to continue to supply electricity over
night, whereas geothermal technology requires some dangerous drilling which
will impact on the ecology, and the wind may simply not blow, but as it has
done for hundreds of millions of years nothing can stop tides, even in bad
weather, storms, tidal turbines properly secured to bed rock on the ocean floor
will constantly generate. Hence the risks factors are significantly less,
making this type of renewable project much more bankable.
Financing such a transformation, from fossil fuel fired
generators to renewable energy driven turbines, must be seen in terms of its
savings. Consider the cost in foreign currency that would be used to purchase
fuel on the international market as a non producer, or as a producer consider
the revenue that could be earned from the sale of fuel not used internally,
both as a direct result of this transition. The capital investment should be
financed by such savings that will occur during the change over period, as well
as from gains realized via an Initial Public Offering (IPO) by listing a new National
Utilities Corporation (NUC) on the stock exchange, while the much reduced
operating cost will be reflected on customers' bills.
Rationale
T.A.J & Associates Company Limited uses this occasion to comment on topics that have been covered, both academically and by the mainstream media, to add its opinion and point out investment opportunity, not to invoke any social action.
