649543 news 1628743729 1628743729 America’s coastlines and waterways hold great promise for clean energy generation. Marine currents, tides, and waves unlike many other forms of renewable energy, provide a consistent source of kinetic energy through regular tidal cycles influenced by the phases of the moon. The Gulf Stream along the Southeastern shores of the United States offers an untapped source of raw kinetic power – as much as 23 gigawatts or an energy output equivalent to 15 nuclear power plants. Researchers at Georgia Tech are exploring how these sizeable concentrations of kinetic energy in the tidal rivers and creeks off of Georgia's coast line can be better leveraged to meet our growing energy needs. The research team has developed simulations of tidal flows along the entire U.S. coastline, which includes thousands of streams, rivers and bays subject to daily tides. A database of these simulations is now publicly available and provides researchers with a tool for identifying water depth, mean current speed, and the available kinetic power density of tidal streams along America’s coastlines. Similar work examining the potential kinetic energy of ocean currents is currently underway.

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