Each machine redistributes over 90km3 of water per year equivalent to 270 GigaWatts continuous
1500 such machines could mitigate our current Global Warming excess.
100 years of heat burial would raise mean ocean temperatures by less than 0.25ºC.
The associated Wave Machine locks up approx 1 million tons of CO2 per year.
Organic CO2 burial would likely exceed that figure.
Practically
A ‘slow-tech’ design would encompass low speeds and a 200-year life.
Reinforced Concrete (RC) is used extensively as construction material, because of its cost, strength and durability.
Building such machines would be viable for the existing offshore industry.
The technology is easily transferable to less-developed countries.
A low-maintenance design allows for minimal upkeep cost.
Environmentally
The pump is accelerating a natural process which is happening anyway.
The CWM is totally wave-powered using renewable energy.
Huge amounts of CO2 are locked up by marine phytoplankton which flourish in the nutrient-rich water.
Fish thrive. Couple that with Marine Park status and you have an oasis for fish revival.
By locating the cold plume appropriately, local weather patterns are affected. Monsoons could be stabilized; Hurricanes diverted.
Socially/ Politically
The entire machine could be organised as an atoll. Island people would inhabit it, caring for marine park and machinery as part of their lifestyle.
Such projects could be financed by a Carbon Tax; ideally through a “World Carbon Bank”
Governments could buy in to such schemes; it’s jobs for their industry and a way to be seen to be doing something!
Economically
- Development costs are estimated at €50 million
- A working prototype would cost approx €400 million
- India could subsequently build a full-size machine for the same price.
- CO2 lock-up (Gas Scrubbing) is worth €10 million per annum
- CO2 lock-up (marine cycle) is worth €20 million per annum
- Payback time for investors = 20 years (180 years profit)
- GW costs us some $500bn annually.
- Payback time for the Global Community = less than a year!!
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