Feasibility Study of Harnessing Onshore Wave Energy at Waipapa
By Muhunthan Ponniah / Babar Mahmood School of Engineering / Unitec
Institute of Technology
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INTRODUCTION The two key issues that are beginning to drive the
current energy sector are Climate change and Fuel Security The need
for Renewable energy is becoming more essential in todays Energy
world market Wave Energy is emerging as a key technology with the
potential to make a large contribution with minimal Environmental
Impact
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RATIONALE Estimated that if less than 0.1 % of the renewable
energy available within the oceans could be converted into
electricity it would satisfy the present world demand for energy
more than five times over Estimated wave energy around the New
Zealand coastline is 30 kW/m which is a good quality resource
According to NIWA Waipapa receives the highest onshore wave height
in New Zealand
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LOCATION OF WAIPAPA Waipapa
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MAIN AIMS To study the feasibility of harnessing onshore wave
energy at Waipapa To estimate the potential power generation by
onshore wave energy at Waipapa
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SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES Review the principles and methods currently
used to harness onshore sea wave energy Collect data (wave height,
wave period) of New Zealand coastal areas and compare with the
Waipapa site Determine the amount of power that can be harnessed
from an onshore sea wave energy model at Waipapa Analysis of
onshore sea wave energy models
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METHODOLOGY Literature showed the following principles and
methods of harnessing onshore wave energy Wave CompanyWavegen
CompanyEnergetech company PrincipleOWC Turbine efficiency (%) 65
%40 % Cost per kW (NZ Cents) 10 cents15 cents Power to national
grid YesNo Environmental issues MinimalNot known yet
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METHODOLOGY . Function of Wavegen model video image Wave
height, wave period at Waipapa and other New Zealand coastlines
were collected from NIWA Power generation from an onshore sea wave
energy model at Waipapa was calculated using wave power equation P
= 0.5H 2 T kW/m length of wave crest P = power in kW/m width of
wave front H = wave height T = average wave period in seconds
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Average power consumed in a 3 bedroom
house in New Zealand is approximately 10 MWh The average annual
onshore wave power from Waipapa over the 5 year period (1989-1993)
was 3,693 MWh Hence Waipapa onshore wave plant could supply power
for 369 3 bedroom houses Power consumption
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RENEWABLE ENERGY COST COMPARISONS (NZ $) Type of Renewable
EnergyCost to produce one kWh Water (small Hydro) 5 10 c/kWh Wind
farms on best sites6 08 c/kWh Solar (Solar thermal for water
heating)13 16 c/kWh Wave (Onshore wave prototype )8 16 c/kWh
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Summary and Conclusion Estimate power produced at Waipapa was
3,693 MWh using the Wave power equation It can supply power for 369
3 bedroom houses Oscillating Water Column Principle was chosen
based on the literature study Wavegen prototype is the most
suitable prototype for the Waipapa site.
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RECOMMENDATIONS The costs of possible onshore wave power plants
on the New Zealand coast should be more accurately estimated with
the help of overseas wave energy companies. A more ambitious
project would be to design and build a New Zealand prototype to get
an even better idea of New Zealand conditions There is a need for
further detailed research in the wave energy.