Are coastal waves NJ’s next power source?

Huge waves generated by a powerful storm wash out sand and dune fencing as high tide arrives late morning.  Seaside Heights, NJ Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Are rolling ocean waves and tidal forces New Jersey’s next sources of renewable energy?

That is the question being explored by officials at the state Board of Public Utilities, which met earlier this month and discussed awarding a contract for a feasibility study for tidal and wave energy generation.

“Ocean wave energy specifically refers to converting energy that’s in that heaving motion of ocean waves,” said Ted KA Brekken, a professor of energy systems at Oregon State University. “There’s actually many different ways to do it… Some of the simplest ones are devices that would just simply move up and down in the waves, and you would generate electricity from that motion.”

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