Excerpt and Photo from greatlakesnow.org
A project off the shore of Beaver Island could harness the power of Lake Michigan’s waves to generate renewable energy.
Right now, the island’s roughly 600 year-round residents get electricity from an underwater cable and diesel generators.
But the community has worked toward renewable energy for a while. For instance, in 2022 it was one of 12 remote communities to receive Department of Energy grants to identify renewable energy and energy efficiency opportunities, and it’s exploring community solar.
Now, a team with the University of Michigan is collaborating with Beaver Island residents to develop a wave energy converter for the island.
Wave energy converters use the movement of the water to generate electricity. The research team will spend the next couple years developing a prototype to install in the waters off the island.