An Introduction to

Ocean Renewable Energies

Presented by

S. Aboozar TabatabaiRutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences

November 2010

الرحیم الرحمن الله بسمPhysical Oceanography

Class Presentation

Introduction

Federal Agency for Science and Innovation, 2008, Moscow, RussiaU.S. Energy Information Administration , International Energy Outlook 2010

Energy… Present and Future

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U.S. Energy Information Administration , International Energy Outlook 2010

Oil Price: light, sweet crude 2008 ($/barrel)

World primary energy

consumption (quadrillion Btu)

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Are we behind?!

2009 Annual Report, Ocean Energy Systems Implementing Agreement (OES-IA)

Member countries in Ocean Energy Systems Implementing Agreement

Internationally, the number of developed Internationally, the number of developed ocean energy technologies more than doubled ocean energy technologies more than doubled

from 2003 (35) to 2006 (81). However, the from 2003 (35) to 2006 (81). However, the federal government only acknowledged ocean federal government only acknowledged ocean renewables in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. renewables in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. 11

Internationally, the number of developed Internationally, the number of developed ocean energy technologies more than doubled ocean energy technologies more than doubled

from 2003 (35) to 2006 (81). However, the from 2003 (35) to 2006 (81). However, the federal government only acknowledged ocean federal government only acknowledged ocean renewables in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. renewables in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. 11

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International Energy Agency, Policy Report, 2006

Silver Medal?... Is that the best we got?!6

Good News ! Ocean renewable energies have begun to capture

the attention of US lawmakers…

• More investments

• Some more courses and programs in universities…

• tax credits

• . . . Way to go!

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Why Ocean?• The ocean is the world's largest solar collector and

can provide huge amount of energy (kinetic and thermal) which is absolutely clean (zero CO2 emission), sustainable, strategic, and predictable.

• Changes in salinity, thermal gradients, tidal sea level change and currents, or ocean waves can be used to generate electricity.

• The number of ocean energy technology concepts has increased to +100 known devices.

• Available global Ocean Energy resource is in the same order of magnitude of the present electricity production worldwide (even more!).

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Table compiled from International Energy Agency, Policy Report, 2006 9

(Conventional) Tidal Energy

Technologies for harnessing energy from tides by building barrage across estuary are well developed, but this type of conversion process could have significant impact on local ecosystem.

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World’s largest tidal power plant in the Rance estuary

near St Malo, France

Peak rating of 240 Megawatts, generated by

24 turbines

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SihwaSihwa will be the world’s largest tidal power will be the world’s largest tidal power plant.plant.

It will be the world’s largest tidal power plant with a total power of 260 MW and an annual power generation of 543 GWh.

Sihwa, South KoreaUnder Construction

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Tidal Current Energy

Significant number of technologies for harnessing energy from tidal current are being developed worldwide. Some of them are at or near full-scale development and undergoing sea trials.Significant number of technologies for harnessing energy from tidal current are being developed worldwide. Some of them are at or near full-scale development and undergoing sea trials.

SeaGen

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Rotech Tidal Turbine (RTT)

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Wave Energy OWC

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Other wave Devices

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CETO

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Salinity Gradient Energy

The world's first osmotic plant with capacity of 4 kW was opened by Statkraft on 24 November 2009 in Tofte, Norway

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Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)

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Open-cycle OTEC

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Thank you for your attention.

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