Wave Energy System

Tidal stream generators
• Very close in concept to traditional windmills

• Most popular prototype on the market
• Prototype sites include Norway, England, and
New York.
– In 2007 8 prototype turbines where placed in the
East River between Queens and Roosevelt
Island.
• It is the first major tidal power project in the USA
• Powers 1/3 of a parking garage and a supermarket
Comparison to Wind Energy
• Tidal Stream generators draw energy in the
same basic way wind turbines do
• Higher density of water allows a single
generator to provide significantly more power
• Water speeds of nearly 1/10 the speed of wind
can provide the same energy output
• Current in water is much more reliable then
wind in the air.
Environmental Impact
– Noise pollution
– Displace productive fishing sites
– Change the pattern of beach sand nourishment
– Alter food chains and disrupt migration
patterns
– Offshore devices will displace bottom-dwelling
organisms where they connect into the
Oceanic Energy Outline
• Overview • Wave Energy
• Tidal Power – Technologies
– Technologies – Environmental
– Environmental Impacts
Impacts – Economics
– Economics – Future Promise
– Future Promise • Assessment
5
Tidal Turbine Farms
6
Seagen
• World’s first large scale
commercial tidal stream
generator.
• First one was installed in the
Strangford Narrows (Ireland)
• Generates 1.2MW between 18-
20 hours a day
• Blades span 16 meters in
diameter
Tidal Turbines (Swanturbines)
• Direct drive to generator

– No gearboxes
• Gravity base
– Versus a bored foundation
• Fixed pitch turbine
blades
– Improved reliability
– But trades off efficiency
Deeper Water Current Turbine
Oscillating Tidal Turbine
• Oscillates up and down
• 150 kW prototype
operational (2003)
• Plans for 3 – 5 MW
prototypes
Advantages of Tidal Turbines
• Low Visual Impact
– Mainly, if not totally submerged.
• Low Noise Pollution
– Sound levels transmitted are very low
• High Predictability
– Tides predicted years in advance, unlike wind
• High Power Density
– Much smaller turbines than wind turbines for the same
power
Disadvantages of Tidal Turbines
• High maintenance costs
• High power distribution costs
• Somewhat limited upside capacity
• Intermittent power generation

Cross Section of a Tidal Barrage
Tidal Barrage Bulb Turbine
Tidal Barrage Rim Generator
Tidal Barrage Tubular Turbine
Tidal Fence
• Array of vertical axis tidal turbines
• No effect on tide levels
• Less environmental impact than a
barrage
• 1000 MW peak (600 MW
average) fences soon
Promising Tidal Energy Sites
Country Location TWh/yr GW
Canada Fundy Bay 17 4.3
Cumberland 4 1.1
USA Alaska 6.5 2.3
Passamaquody 2.1 1
Argentina San Jose Gulf 9.5 5
Russia Orkhotsk Sea 125 44
India Camby 15 7.6
Kutch 1.6 0.6
Korea 10
Australia 5.7 1.9
Tidal Barrage Environmental
Factors
• Changes in estuary ecosystems
– Less variation in tidal range
– Fewer mud flats
• Less turbidity – clearer water
– More light, more life
• Accumulation of silt
– Concentration of pollution in silt
• Visual clutter
Disadvantages of Tidal Turbines
• High capital costs

• Few attractive tidal power sites worldwide
• Intermittent power generation
• Silt accumulation behind barrage
– Accumulation of pollutants in mud
• Changes to estuary ecosystem
Global Wave Energy Averages
Average wave energy (est.) in kW/m (kW per meter of wave length)
Wave Energy Potential
• Potential of 1,500 – 7,500 TWh/year
– 10 and 50% of the world’s yearly electricity demand
– IEA (International Energy Agency)
• 200,000 MW installed wave and tidal energy power

forecast by 2050
– Power production of 6 TWh/y
– Load factor of 0.35
– DTI and Carbon Trust (UK)
• “Independent of the different estimates the potential for a

pollution free energy generation is enormous.”
Turbines for Wave Energy
Turbine used in Mighty Whale

Ocean Wave Conversion System
Wave Energy Power Distribution
Wave Energy Environmental
Impact
• Little chemical pollution
• Little visual impact
• Some hazard to shipping
• No problem for migrating fish, marine life
• Extract small fraction of overall wave energy
– Little impact on coastlines
• Release little CO2, SO2, and NOx
– 11g, 0.03g, and 0.05g / kWh respectively
Wave Power Advantages
• Onshore wave energy systems can be incorporated into
harbor walls and coastal protection
– Reduce/share system costs
– Providing dual use
• Create calm sea space behind wave energy systems
– Development of mariculture
– Other commercial and recreational uses;
• Long-term operational life time of plant
• Non-polluting and inexhaustible supply of energy
Wave Power Disadvantages
• High capital costs for initial construction
• High maintenance costs
• Wave energy is an intermittent resource
• Requires favorable wave climate.
• Investment of power transmission cables to shore
• Degradation of scenic ocean front views
• Interference with other uses of coastal and offshore areas
– navigation, fishing, and recreation if not properly sited
• Reduced wave heights may affect beach processes in
the littoral zone
Wave Energy Summary
• Potential as significant power supply (1 TW)
• Intermittence problems mitigated by integration
with general energy supply system
• Many different alternative designs
• Complimentary to other renewable and
conventional energy technologies

Wave Energy System

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Tidal stream generators

• Very close in concept to traditional windmills

• Direct drive to generator

• High maintenance costs

• High power distribution costs

• Somewhat limited upside capacity

• Intermittent power generation

• High capital costs

• 200,000 MW installed wave and tidal energy power

• “Independent of the different estimates the potential for a

Turbine used in Mighty Whale

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