Point Absorbers
How do waves move really?
Many people from observation think that waves move back and forth towards and away from the shore. This is only somewhat true. In reality, waves have much more of an up-and-down motion across the ocean surface.
How do point absorbers harness this energy?
A buoy sits on the ocean surface, bobbing up and down with the waves. The buoy is then connected to the ocean floor. As the buoy moves up and down with the wave, the buoy pulls and pushes on a machine to transfer the mechanical energy into electrical energy. Even though there are often different variations for the point absorber, the basic idea remains the same.
Model
Buoy
Generator
My Research
As I learned more and more about ocean energy, I also started visiting the ocean more and more. Watching the ocean waves always brought me peace and clarity in my thoughts. As I listened to the waves crashing, an idea came into my mind: I don't have to wait until I am an adult to start trying to improve renewable energy technology or fight climate change; I can start now as a high schooler. With motivation and a passion for science, I started to look into how to do research and started trying to build a miniature point absorber at home. A part that interested me was the buoy of the point absorber. To me it seemed like the most important piece of a point absorber, as it is what directly absorbs the energy from the ocean. I started off by building a very small point absorber using copper coils, magnets, test tubes, fishing line, and Styrofoam.
Awareness
The lack of development in ocean energy is largely due to its lack of awareness. If you found what you have learned to be interesting, tell other people about it!
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