Alternative fuels are a huge buzz word today as we race towards depleting our stockpiles of fossil fuels. Solar, wind and water power have been harnessed with varying degrees of success by different technologies that researchers have come up with. Now its the time of the ocean to prove that its more than just the largest feature of planet Earth.

Japanese scientists have come up with turbines that are powered by ocean currents in a modified hydroelectricity project. Their green energy comes straight from the bed of the ocean where they have placed a submerged marine turbine to harness the energy of the Kuroshio Current.

Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology have designed this science project which involves a three blade turbine with a float, a counter weight and a nacelle to house electricity generating components. Testing of the science project has revealed that the turbine is both robust and stable.

The expected output of the alternative power source is likely to reach 1 GW which is the same as a single nuclear reactor. That is the capacity to power close to 400,000 homes. Think it is time to say goodbye to the impending world wide energy crisis when these babies go into mass production!