Saudi inventor demonstrates new technology to harness ocean energy

Jeddah: On Wednesday, Saudi inventor Nasser Al-Shemaimry demonstrated how to use turbines to capture energy from ocean currents in a press conference that was held at the Movenpick hotel in Jeddah.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Nasser, who worked at the Ministry of Interior for more than 40 years, was present at the press conference."This memorandum will be presented to the inventor Nasser Al-Shemaimry for engineering supplies and most office services," he told Arab News. "And to connect with ministries, and we will help him with anything he needs."

Al-Shemaimry, CEO of Miami-based OceanBased Perpetual Energy, and Prince Abdulaziz signed a memorandum of collaboration.

"This memorandum will be presented to the inventor Nasser Al-Shemaimry for engineering supplies and most office services," he told Arab News. "And to connect with ministries, and we will help him with anything he needs."

The Florida Gulf Stream current was the first to be harnessed and transformed into clean, renewable energy using Al-Shemaimry's technology in south Florida.

"Oceans and seas have some currents that go from one direction to another, the current varies in speed, but the current we are using is 5 to 6 miles per hour," he told Arab News.

"Five-six miles per hour is enough to make the propellers turn, and our propeller is 64 meters long, so as it turns, it turns the turbines inside of the cowling, and that turbine rotates the generator, which produces electricity," he said.

According to him, his project transfers electricity from a generator to a substation, which then adjusts it to the appropriate level, Arab News reported.

"Then it goes to the shore and we connect it to the main substation on shore, then it is up to the city hall or the people who are in charge of the town, city or country to take it from there and take it to the power lines," he said.

He emphasised how the ocean offered a constant and unbroken flow of energy, contrasted to other renewable energy sources like solar or wind.

He said that for solar energy requirements, the panels would function and charge the batteries as long as the sun was up.

"Each energy source has its own advantages and disadvantages. Solar energy has been around forever, it works and serves its purpose, it's inexpensive and on land," he said.

"Windmills are everywhere, but the difference in my opinion is that our energy is perpetual; it doesn't stop, it works 24/7 and 365 days a year."

Saudi Arabia has made significant efforts to safeguard the environment and lessen the consequences of climate change since the Kingdom's Vision 2030 was unveiled in 2016.

The Green Saudi Initiative conducted extensive research that showed a reduction in carbon emissions of more than 4% and initiatives to provide 50% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.