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May 6, 2009 By 2 Comments
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Swell Fuel ocean wave power device could help save coral reefs.

photograph of Swell Fuel “Trojan Horse” prototype ocean wave energy converter

About Tina Casey

Tina Casey specializes in military and corporate sustainability, advanced technology, emerging materials, biofuels, and water and wastewater issues. She is a regular contributor to Cleantechnica.com, TriplePundit.com, and IdeaLab.Talkingpointsmemo.com, and she is currently Deputy Director of Public Information for the County of Union, New Jersey.

Tina’s articles are reposted frequently on Reuters, Scientific American, and many other sites. You can also follow her on twitter @TinaMCasey, and on Tumblr.

Her professional background includes three years as Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and two years as a researcher for the city’s Department of Consumer Affairs.

  • Dave Donalson

    I’m not followling this logic, since one unit makes 5000 watts or roughly 7 horsepower. Wouldn’t that mean it would take three units to supply the power for one household and not 100 units? (Scott’s quote”Even if they cost $10 apiece, that would be $10,000″ )and by that number it would be 74,600 watts and your quote on engry consumption is 16,400 watts for a household. I think you’ve been staring at the flash on your camera too long

  • Scott Bergquist

    This device is always demonstrated by “lighting up” something and it can be seen for miles!

    What are the sober physics? 746 watts=1 horsepower. A typical household consumes 16400 watt-hours per day. Translate that into horsepower, that is 22 horsepower-hours, or, roughly, generation of one-horsepower hour after hour, all day long.

    Since one horsepower is equal to lifting 550 pounds of weight, one foot vertically, every SECOND, without pausing…!… you would need ONE THOUSAND, maybe more, of these devices, to power ONE household. Even if they cost $10 apiece, that would be $10,000… no wiring maintenance, etc. Don’t be fooled by the temporary “flash” of light. That is no more impressive than the “flash” from a tiny digital camera: blinding, but not much power.