New Technology Turns Water Vibrations Into Energy

River currents have been a source of energy for centuries, and turbine technologies are being developed to harness the power in ocean currents. But these technologies require high current speeds, which are relatively rare in the world. A new system being developed by Dr. Michael Bernitsas of the University of Michigan draws on fish technology to get power from slow-moving water.

The technology is called VIVACE, which stands for Vortex Induced Vibrations for Aquatic Clean Energy. Horizontally oriented cylinders in water create vortices in the passing current that move the cylinder up and down, and this mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy. An array of these cylinders could be placed on a riverbed or ocean floor or suspended in the water from the surface. Because the technology works in current speeds slower than three knots, it could be used in most of the water currents on Earth.

The modular nature of the VIVACE array suggests a wide range of applications, and it has the potential to be deployed in a variety of settings, providing renewable energy to people around the world.

You can read more about this technology here.