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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.

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QUESTION TIME ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ?

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The End