24 February 2012 - While most major economies agree that some form of alternative and renewable resources are needed as part of the emerging energy mix, embracing frontier areas like wave arrays might be more about changing the way decision-makers think about energy than simply about the saving the environment. That's how Richard Yemm, founder of Scottish company Pelamis Wave Power, sees it anyhow. He says efforts underway in Europe aren't just about protecting the environment, they're about new ways to provide energy that make economic sense. He's not, after all, just talking about climate change when he talks about going green.
"The second industrial revolution is well under way in the U.K. and Europe, one which is based on green energy and technology," says Yemm, "and Scotland, which aims to decarbonize its economy, is leading the way in frontier energy developments."
The first industrial revolution was driven by carbon-based energy resources and helped define today's economy, he explained. The second revolution is driven by green technologies. This sector is already big business in Europe and, if First Minister Alex Salmond gets his way, it will help an independent Scotland stand alone in the region.
On the west coast of Scotland, powerful ocean swells roll into shore year round. Because of this, Yemm claims there's enough wave energy to power 100 homes with every step you take along the beach.
"The ocean is like a gigantic battery," he says, "continually being charged by the wind." read more>>>
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