The technology that converts ocean currents into energy holds a lot of potential. Though the technology is still being developed, a teenager from Florida managed to create a low-cost ocean energy harvesting device.
Fifteen-year-old Hannah Herbst from Boca Raton, Florida won the 2015 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge for her $12 ocean energy harvesting device.
She worked with a 3M scientist who helped her in the concept and design to further develop the device. She won a $25,000 prize for her very economical invention. The device could prove to be useful for the developing world.
Hannah’s device consists of a 3D printed propeller, a pulley, and a hydroelectric generator. Waves move the propeller and provide energy to the generator. Her device was able to generate just enough power to light some LED bulbs, but if the design is scaled up, it could create enough power to run a desalinization machine, which converts ocean water into safe drinking water.
