Magnetic resistance - wind powered water heater?

Question

Common thoughts are to have a wind generator create electricity. However if the electricity is used to heat water then having the wind power heat the water directly makes sense. I read about a group of students who did just this

http://eecs.oregonstate.edu/news/story/1889

The principle is based on magnetic resistance. Can anyone help me understand this principle ?

Answer 1

As I suspected, it still uses electricity. As you probably know, when you flick a magnet near a conductor, it produces electricity in the conductor. They use the wind to move magnets near a copper plate, which is of course a conductor. The currents set up in the plate dissipate, just as how a resistor gets heated up when current flows through it. It is an interesting idea, particularly if you visualize it being implemented in, say, Antarctica, where there is a lot of wind. There is no need to do sophisticated electrical circuitry.

Answer 2

"The array of magnets spins in close proximity to a copper plate, which becomes hot due to magnetic resistance. The heat is transferred from the copper plate to water being pumped through coiled copper tubing that is mounted against the back of the copper plate."