New sources of energy are always being looked at. Green energy in Japan has been a focal point ever since the nuclear meltdown at Fukushima in 2011 and it has been made abundantly clear that Japan will not stop until they find that source of Green energy.

IHI Corp, according to Bloomberg, has reported a successful test of a massive, airplane-sized turbine prototype that can generate electricity from the deep ocean. This now lays the groundwork for new sources of renewable energy which have been promised since 2011.

Japan develops tidal energy as part of US$501 million project — **Image Source**

The company’s most recent prototype, Kairyu, weighs nearly 330 tons. Two counter-rotating fans are connected using a large fuselage and this allows the entire equipment to float while attached to the sea floor. It is expected to need to hover 100 and 160 feet below the ocean surface.

So far, the company has been able to produce nearly 100kW of steady electricity during test trials. IHI Corp plans to work towards generating two megawatts during more testing. Commercial operations are also set to launch in the 2030s.

With this invention becoming a leading success, Japan is looking for other options. They have researched tidal power, ocean thermal energy conversion, and more. Engineers now have the difficult task of growing the process to the point where it is profitable, which is no simple task.

"The major difficulty for ocean current turbines is whether they could design a system that would generate electricity cheaply out of currents that are not especially powerful."
Angus McCrone, a marine energy specialist, said.

Uniic Media

A Giant Turbine Generating Electricity Deep…