Power from ocean waves

The total power of the waves breaking against the world's shores is estimated at 10/sup 13/ watts--the equivalent of world energy consumption. Yet recent research in Britain projects a negative near term future. Performance and costs of wave power devices compared unfavorably to electricity. Studies continue on harnessing wave power at special sites, usually islands, where the waves are energetic, and electricity expensive. Pneumatic devices--columns of water and air with turbine generators on the top--could be attached to the ocean floor off the coast to generate significant energy. But fossil fuel backup would be necessary on calm days. The British government terminated wave power research in 1982. Japan and Norway may take the lead in large scale conversion--but they too seem guided by the negative British projection.