New Mexico firm uses motion of the ocean to bring fresh water to coastal communities

[Judi Lynn]

July 5, 2017




Hurricane Katrina whipped up huge, powerful waves that caused severe destruction in 2005 along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Their size and strength convinced Phil Kithil of Santa Fe, New Mexico, there had to be a way to harness that energy.

His first thought was a device that would use wave action to pump deep, cold seawater to the surface to dampen the intensity of hurricanes, which thrive on warm water. He proved the concept with a simple tube and one-way valve attached to a buoy, but the idea had no commercial potential as hurricanes are unpredictable.

He thought of a second use because the wave-action pump also brought to the surface concentrated ocean nutrients such as phosphate and silicate that promote the growth of phytoplankton. "Phytoplankton take in carbon dioxide to metabolize nutrients and give off oxygen," Kithil said. "We felt the pumps had a role to play in climate change mitigation."

But, again, the business potential evaporated when governments participating in the 2009 United Nations Copenhagen Climate conference did not take action that would open carbon markets for the device.

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-07-mexico-firm-motion-ocean-fresh.html#jCp

[dhill926]

1. K & R...

pretty cool. California could sure use it...