Ocean Energy
Kim Cobb
with slides from Dr. Alam, MIT
Overview of Ocean Energy
-ocean energy is replenished by the sun and through tidal influences of the
moon’s and sun’s gravitational forces
-near-surface winds induce wave action and cause wind-blown currents at
about 3% of the wind speed
-tides cause strong currents into and out of coastal basins and rivers
-ocean surface heating by some 70% of the incoming sunlight adds to the
surface water thermal energy, causing expansion and flow
-wind energy is stronger over the ocean due to less drag, although
technically, only seabreezes are from ocean energy
How much energy and what types?
-250 Billion barrels of oil worth of energy coming into ocean every day
-80 million barrels of oil per day produced
kinetic
potential
Powers of 10
• 1 exajoule = 1.0E+18 joules
• 1 [Link] - 1000 Wh E+3
• 1 megaWatt. Hr - 1,000,000 Wh E+6
• 1 gigaWatt .H- 1,000,000,000 Wh E+9
• teraWatt . H. - 1,000,000,000,000 Wh E+12
How much energy and what types?
-250 Billion barrels of oil worth of energy coming into ocean every day
-80 million barrels of oil per day produced
Theoretical global resource of ocean energy:
8,000-80,000 TWh/yr for wave energy
800 TWh/yr for tidal current energy
2,000 TWh/yr for salinity gradient energy
10,000 TWh/yr for ocean thermal energy
World’s electricity consumption 17,000 TWh/yr
Source of Ocean Wave Energy
Wave Energy Extraction Technologies
Point Oscillating Water Column
Absorber (Energetech/Oceanlinx)
(OPT,
Finavera)
Attenuator, Pelamis WP Overtopping, Wave Dragon
Power From Ocean Waves
kW/m crest length
Power From Ocean Waves
• Wave energy is strongest on the west coasts and increases toward the poles.
• At approx. 30 kW/mcl in the Northwest (yearly avg.), a single meter (3.3 feet) of wave has the
raw energy to power about 23 homes.
Point absorber buoys: most common
capacity = 150 kW
Ocean Power Technology buoy, to best tested this month off Oregon
will power 50 homes. Federal permit obtained for grid-connection.
Oscillating Water Column Installations: LAND
NOTE: Plant Bowen (Georgia Power) operates at 3,200,000 kW
Oscillating Water Column Installations: OCEAN
“Overtopping” Wave Energy
“Sea Snake” Wave Energy
121m long, 3.5m tall!
Tidal Energy Conversion
Ocean Renewable Power Company installed first grid-connected tidal
device in Cobbscook Bay, Maine in June, 2012. Powers 25 homes.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
210 kW OTEC test plant, 1993-1998, Hawaii
The Capacity factor (Cf) is a measure of
the average production of a generation unit
over a period of time with regards to its
installed capacity. It is calculated as a
percentage, by dividing the total energy
produced during a period of time by the
amount of energy the plan would have
produced if it ran at full output during that
time period (NREL, 2015). Overall, the
capacity factor is related to the operation of
the generation unit. In case of conventional
power plants and non-variable RES, the
capacity factor is controllable to a large
extent. For variable RES the capacity
factor is only controllable in one direction,
i.e. downwardsThe Capacity factor (Cf) is a
measure of the average production of a
generation unit over a period of time with
regards to its installed capacity. It is
calculated as a percentage, by dividing the
Future OTEC plant: grow food and fuel?
Ocean Energy: Where are we today?
Wave Energy (grid-connected):
-0.4MW and 0.5MW OWC off the coast of Pico and Islay by 2008
-2.25MW Pelamis off Portugal by 2008
-0.5MW section of Wave Star Energy off Denmark by 2009
-7MW Wave Dragon off Wales by 2010
Tidal:
- barriers: 240MW France in 1966 and 20MW in Canada
-Current: 1.2MW off Ireland by 2009, 1MW France
Thermal:
-0.2MW Hawaii 1993-1998
Ocean Energy: PROS and CONS?
