Latest news with #OceanSun
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Chinese company unveils floating technology that could generate energy on the surface of the ocean — here's what you need to know
A new solar breakthrough could transform how we power our world by generating clean energy directly from the ocean's surface. Chinese energy company GCL System Integration (GCLSI), in collaboration with Norwegian marine solar specialist Ocean Sun, has unveiled an innovative offshore floating solar panel designed to withstand the harshest sea conditions while achieving record-breaking efficiency, according to an Interesting Engineering report. The NT10/60GT floating solar module is built for extreme durability. Its dual-glass construction and four-layer waterproof design can handle high humidity, saltwater exposure, and wind, making it one of the most rugged and reliable floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems on the market. The panel delivers a peak efficiency of 21.78% and an electrical output between 460 and 490 watts. Built on a flexible membrane connected to a floating platform, it's engineered to rise and fall with the ocean, secured by prefabricated rails. An anodized aluminum frame resists salt spray corrosion, while the frameless design reduces aluminum use and keeps costs lower, all without sacrificing strength or performance. Unlike traditional solar farms, which can disrupt ecosystems, take up large land areas, and overheat, floating systems like this cool naturally and leave habitats largely undisturbed. By taking solar offshore, these panels expand access to clean power in regions where land space is limited or expensive. Offshore FPV technology could be a game changer for coastal cities, island communities, and offshore industries. Some researchers believe it may even replace offshore oil rigs by tapping into existing subsea power infrastructure. While full life-cycle costs are still being evaluated, recent studies show that semi-submersible designs anchored with durable ropes can withstand harsh ocean conditions and provide added stability. In addition to supporting a more stable global energy supply, clean power like this directly benefits human health by reducing pollution linked to respiratory illnesses, cancer, and neurological conditions. By decentralizing energy generation, floating solar can give more communities control over their power, potentially even enabling peer-to-peer energy trading in the future. Installing solar panels at home is one of the most impactful ways to cut your energy bills, increase your home's value, and reduce pollution. In fact, it's one of the easiest home energy hacks, helping you bring energy costs down to or near $0. EnergySage offers a free tool to compare quotes from vetted local installers and save up to $10,000 on solar installations. Going solar also makes running other money-saving electric appliances, like heat pumps, even cheaper. Services like Mitsubishi can help you find the right affordable heat pump for your home. Consumers may see this FPV technology deployed sooner than expected. In February, Ocean Sun partnered with Singapore-based Canopy Power to roll out floating solar systems in Australia, addressing land and water scarcity while scaling up renewable energy access. Should we be harnessing the ocean to power our homes? Absolutely Leave it be It depends I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Meet ‘Ocean Sun', the nearly 100-year-old Southern Resident Orca crowned oldest in the world
Experts say one of our Southern Resident Orcas will soon turn 100 years old! 'Ocean Sun', also known as L25, is considered the oldest orca in the world. However, she hasn't had an easy life. Howard Garrett with the Orca Network details a life full of tragedy and hardship. In fact, Garrett says Ocean Sun should've died years ago, but she persevered. Ocean Sun was tentatively born in 1928, making her 97 years old. Researchers say this is an estimated age as records before 1950 aren't great, but they are confident in their estimation. She has distinctive white markings, including a 'hook shape' white mark near her dorsal fin. 'When she comes up next you know it, she's a big whale,' Garrett said. She is part of the Southern Resident L Pod. She has survived polluted water, famine, and even capture. In August 1970, Ocean Sun's pod was herded into Penn Cove off Whidbey Island. 'That's where the captures took place,' Garrett said. 'Where the net pens were set up, where they pushed mothers away to net babies, and haul them away.' Around 100 orcas were ripped from the Puget Sound during those captures. 'It's believed that Tokitae, later renamed Lolita by her captors, was her daughter. She was hauled away,' Garrett said. Lolita was sold to the Miami Seaquarium, never seeing Ocean Sun again. She spent the rest of her life in that tank, dying in 2023. Garrett tells us Ocean Sun's entire known bloodline was killed or sold to the highest bidder over time. 'It was a horrendous day, kind of the scene of a massacre from their point of view,' Garrett said. The echoes of distress still linger off Penn Cove's docks today. Whidbey Island resident Susan Lin said she often comes to the pier near the cove, saying she can't help but think about what happened. 'It's shocking to think there are individuals who view this as theirs for the taking,' Lin said. 'To do that type of mass roundup is horrifying.' That isn't the only threat she's faced in her lifetime. 'Even more than the captures, has been the lack of Chinook Salmon,' Garrett said. Researchers say there's been a major food shortage for more than 30 years, but Ocean Sun always adapts. 'She's a survivor, I don't know how she does it,' mused Garrett. In November, the L pod returned to the 1970 capture sites for the first time. Garrett said this shows orcas forgive, but don't forget. 'She shared those stories, she described somehow what happened because they behaved very strangely right over the capture sites,' Garrett said. Garrett says the orcas paced and did tricks for hours, which could be seen as a cleansing of some sort. Ocean Sun may not be related to the L Pod by blood, but she is a leader. Garrett said those orcas treat her like the mother she should've had a chance to be. He tells us Ocean Sun appears to be in great health, against all odds. The Orca Network is looking forward to celebrating her 100 years spent in the Puget Sound in 2028.
