FRENCHMEN SEEK ELECTRIC POWER FROM SEA DEPTHS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6864, 20 March 1929, Page 10

FRENCHMEN SEEK ELECTRIC POWER FROM SEA DEPTHS

DIFFERENCE OF TEMPERATURE OF LEVELS THOUGHT SUFFICIENT TO DEVELOP ENERGY. PALIS, Feb. S. French natural scientific circles are keenlv interested in the report made beforo the ' Academy of Sciences by Georges Claude concerning his steps taken to produce electrical energy by bringing the cold water of the lower depths of the soa to warmer levels. He has just returned here from Cuba, where his experiments arc bong conducted. He announced he had found a suitable position for his first. 50-kilo-meters cast of Havana. This will be followed by a second test plant ot l-r 000 kilowatts and if successful by others four times the size. It, was iu November, 1920, that M. Claude, assisted by Paul Bougherot, first presented their theory to the Academy of Sciences. Since then thev have been heard from whenever there was progress to be recorded, men have tried before this to draw heat from tuc sun’s rays to develop energy or to turn to similar purpose the rise and fall o the tides, but this is the first time the utilisation of the different temperatures of the ocean has been carried to a point where electrical energy can be definitely realised. M. Claude said there is in the ocean vast potential energy which can be made use of by relatively simple mechanical transformation. , , c The immersion of a tube two meters ir diameter to a depth of 000 meters will be made iu .Tunc, and this >car, a,'eroding to M. Claude, there will be sufficient proof on hand to know whether or not means have really been found whereby electrical energy can be produced on a scale to compete with oil and coal.