A tidal energy device with strong patent protection

摘要

A promising tidal energy invention has just come through its Patent Cooperation Treaty-examination with flying colours. This examination, which can only be carried out by a few patent offices in the world, is so stringent that it virtually guarantees that patents will be obtained on the back of it in any country where an application is made. As an alternative energy source, tidal has the advantage over wind and ocean waves of being completely predictable. This greatly enhances its relative economics, since it has much less need for back-up generating power than the other two types. This invention is of the 'free-stream' type, which can be thought of as 'windmills in the water.' Unlike a barrage, it has the further economic attraction of being able to be deployed incrementally, as returns are obtained. It can therefore be exploited by private sector capital, and was first investigated at the time of the Suez crisis by the General Electric Company, but was abandoned when oil became cheap again.