Question

State two ways in which the energy of sea-waves can be harnessed.

Answer 1

Two ways in which the energy of sea-waves can be harnessed are:

• Tidal energy - Due to the gravitational pull of the moon on the spinning earth, the level of water in the sea rises and falls. These are called high and low tides and the energy can be harnessed by constructing a dam across a narrow opening to the sea.
• Ocean thermal energy - The water at the surface of the sea or ocean is heated by the sun while the water in deeper sections is relatively cold. This difference in temperature is exploited to obtain energy in ocean thermal energy conversion plants.