Generating Electricity - What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Wave Power?

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What is Wave Power?

Generating electricity from moving water
caused by the waves is called wave power.

How does Wave Power Generate Electricity?

Wave power uses the rise and fall of the sea
as waves approach the coast.

A float on the water surface pushes air
forwards and backwards through a turbine on the land,
as the waves cause the float to rise and fall.
The turbine generates electricity.

The original source of the energy is the Sun
which makes the wind blow causing waves.

What are the Advantages of Wave Power?

1. It is renewable.

2. It does not cause pollution.

What are the Disadvantages of Wave Power?

1. It is unreliable. When the wind drops,
the waves get smaller and less electricity is generated.

2. An individual wave power machine does not generate
very much electricity. You would need
a lot of them to replace one fossil fuel power station.

3. The natural beauty of an area may be spoiled.

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