Blue energy power from sea: More power 2 blue.

Byline: UROOJ AIJAZ

Growing world population and socio-economic development are at the root of an ever-increasing energy demand throughout the world. Total world energy use rises from 308 Quadrillion Btu in 1985 to 472 Quadrillion Btu in 2007, and then rises to 506.2-510.5 Quadrillion Btu in 2010. Much of this demand is met by means of fossil fuels, leading to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change so, the efforts are taken to increase the share of renewable energy sources in the global energy mix where, Marine energy is a reliable, high-density source of energy with limited environmental impacts.

Wave and tidal energy is a visible expression of power of nature where ambition to convert the natural source of energy bound up in marine systems to something useable by mankind goes back to 1940's. In the 21st century strong efforts are made to dig out the clean source of energy with an objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to counter environment degradation and climate change. All renewable energy exploration can not only provide a sustainable energy supply for economic growth, but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Tides, a non-polluting, renewable, and clean energy, are characterized by oscillating currents in the ocean caused by the rise and fall of the ocean surface due to the gravitational attraction among the Earth, Moon, and Sun. it is estimated that tidal energy reserves all over the world are 2.7 billion kW. If all of these reserves are converted into electrical energy, the electricity generating capacity per year will be about 1,200 billion kWh. Generating electricity from tidal energy is developing and reliable. The largest operating tidal barrage power plant is the La Rance power facility (built in 1967) in France, with the generating capacity of 240 MW and the annual electricity generating capacity of 600 million kWh. The Jangxia Creek power facility in China has a generating capacity of 3,900 kW achieving remarkable economic and social benefits.

Pakistan, with its long coastline, growing population, increasing energy demands and extreme air pollution, has a great potential for the development of marine energy. However, this potential has not received sufficient legislative or entrepreneurial attention so far. Despite of enormous potential of its energy resources, Pakistan remains energy- deficient and rely heavily on imports to satisfy its needs. Moreover, a very large part of the rural areas does not have the...