Introduction

Throughout history, civilization has gathered and flourished near coastal environments. With high population densities also comes a high demand for energy resources. Wisconsin has been a pioneer in harnessing energy from coastal resources as the first hydroelectric power plant was built in Appleton, Wisconsin, on the Fox River in 1882. The Great Lakes region has much potential for hydrokinetic energy generation as do many coastal regions around the world. To solve the growing energy problems, we need to harness the power of flowing water currents, waves, and tides.

World potential for hydrokinetic generation of energy from ocean waves is very promising.

Potential for harnessing wave energy from around the world is very promising.
Image courtesy of http://peakenergy.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html

As engineers, innovation in solving the world’s energy crisis is of dire importance. The search for renewable energy resources has taken us from the gusts of wind farms to the green fields of biofuels and now to new forms of hydroelectric generation. The shear power of waves can be destructive, but if the power of water can be harnessed, we can attain a viable energy resource to curb our dependence on fossil fuels and bring humanity back from the brink of anthropogenic global changes.