Ocean EnergyEGEE 101HJeffrey Singer & Matthew Quillen

Introduction

❖What is Ocean Energy?❖The Moon and Tides

❖History of Ocean Energy

What is Ocean Energy?❖ Term used to describe all forms of energy derived from the sea❖ Includes wave energy, tidal energy, ocean thermal energy, etc.

Energy Potential❖ Oceans cover more than 70% of Earth's surface

❖ Ocean is world’s largest solar collector

❖ Potential to power the entire world

Energy Potential Cont. ❖ 80% of the sun’s energy is stored within the

world’s ocean surface waters every day

❖ 4,000 times the amount of energy the world uses on a daily basis

The Moon and Tides❖ Earth and Moon are like magnets❖ Earth cannot “hold down” water thus moon is able to pool at it❖ 2 High tides 2 Low tides

History❖ 11th century dams first built

❖ Initial patent for Wave Power device issued over 100 years ago

❖ Formally discovered in 1966, La Rance, France

Initial Ocean Energy Projects❖ World’s first multi-unit commercial wave farm is known

as Pelamis❖ Wave movement sets off hydraulic pump process,

driving generators to produce electricity

Initial Ocean Energy Projects Cont.❖ Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) utilizes natural temperature

differences between warm surface waters and deep cold water

❖ Using its own supply of sustainable 24/7 energy, OTEC can produce tremendous volumes of fresh drinking water

❖ Irregular and Low-Frequency energy source

❖Many different system types❖Deep Ocean vs. Coastal sites❖ Permitting issues

Wave Energy

Wave Energy Conversion❖ Channel Systems- Funnel waves into reservoirs

❖ Float Systems- Drive hydraulic pumps

❖ Oscillating Water Column System- Use waves to compress air within a container

❖Reservoirs and Dams❖Moon❖ La Rance Tidal Power

Plant

Tidal Energy

Tidal Energy Conversion❖ Barrage or Dam

❖ Forces water through turbines

❖ Activates generator to create electricity

❖ Temperature Difference

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)

Advantages❖Green- Does not emit any harmful

greenhouse gases

❖Renewable

❖Reliable- Seasonal changes yet always in motion

Advantages Cont.❖ Energy Potential- 30-40 KW for every meter of wave

along shore

❖ Area Efficient- Wave farm that is occupying less than a half square mile can generate enough power to supply 20,000 homes

❖ Offshore Wave Plants- Larger energy potential

Disadvantages ❖ Environmental Effects- Causes conflict with

tourism and local acceptance, and unsure of effect on marine life

❖Costs- New stage of technology, wave resources, connection to power grid, lifespan of technology

Concerns of Technology❖ High construction cost with long payback period❖ Protecting shore fronts❖ Preventing alterations in ocean temperatures❖ Keeping sea life migration patterns intact

Future of Ocean Energy❖Move towards leveling costs❖ Electricity prices drive installation ❖ All depends on wave energy density

References ❖ The Moon And Tides. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool

/Astro/moon/moontides/ ❖ Ocean Energy. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.energy.ca.gov/oceanenergy

/#tidal❖ Ocean Energy Web Page. (n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2015, from http://oceanenergy.epri.com/❖ The History and Fun Facts of Ocean Energy. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from

http://mgoceanenergy.weebly.com/the-history-and-fun-facts-of-ocean-energy.html ❖ (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.greentechmedia.com/research/report

/forecasting-the-future-of-ocean-power