For decades, scientists have been trying to tap wave power as a source of renewable energy. According to the World Energy Council-an international consortium promoting sustainable energy-ocean waves could supply twice as much electricity as the world now consumes. But wave action is so dispersed, it's difficult to harvest this power economically.

Wavegen, an Inverness, Scotland-based company, is trying. In November 2000 it installed the world's first commercial system to generate electricity directly from the surf. Located near the town of Portnahaven on the Scottish island of Islay, Wavegen's system-called the Land-Installed Marine-Powered Energy Transformer, or Limpet-can generate 500 kilowatts of power reliably, enough for about 400 homes.