Talk about making lemonade out of lemons. In this case the engineers are taking vortexes, which normally create problems, and harnessing them to generate power. Here is a complete explanation:

The strategy is called Vortex Induced Vibrations (VIV). For more info visit:

VortexHydroEnergy.com/

One fascinating statistic from this web site:

[VIV] permits low cost energy to be produced from relatively small installations – requiring up to 50 times less ocean acreage than wave power concepts.

Also:

The world’s oceans contain an astounding amount of energy in the form of waves, currents, tidal flows and temperature gradients. VIVACE can cost-effectively harness the energy in moving water, either prevailing currents or tidal fluctuations, to produce electricity. Estimates for the energy contained in these range from 280,000 Terawatt-hours (TWh) to over 700,000 TWh. These figures are particularly impressive when compared to worldwide electricity generation which is approximately 16,000 TWh. It should be noted, however, that not all of the energy can be removed from ocean currents without causing irreparable harm to the world’s weather patterns.

While some ocean currents are in remote locations, the map shows that many prevailing ocean currents hug the populous continental coastlines. The total accessible market, near population centers, is estimated at 4,000 TWh, one quarter of the world’s current electricity demand.

[[[See previous invention]]]