So here is a way I have thought of to make wave energy more efficient.
First, you anchor a pole to the ocean floor (how far from land is a question we wont go into). A good example of poles that are already there are those wind turbines that are planted in the sea. they also have the advantage of being connected to the grid already.
Second, wrap a float around the pole, so that it can slide up and down it as the waves go up and down. the size and buoyancy of the float is important since the more it can carry the more it can push when the wave lifts it. hence the more power will ultimately be generated.
Third, connect hydrolic shafts to the top of the pole and the float. this way, every time the float goes up it pushes the shafts up with as much force as it is buoyant (a float the size of a bed should be able to lift an elephant if done right). when the shafts are pushed they power a generator.
if you have a float that lifts 100kg and a wave of 20cm every 10 sec, you generate a large amount of electricity. the higher the wave the more energy generated.
It should be fairly easy to make a simple version of this. instead of hydrolic shafts it would be a belt turning a crank shaft or turbine. It would be a proof of concept. I think it would be nice to generate just a little more energy from those already standing wind turbines.
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