Underwater Wind Turbines

By: Team Thailand(Austin Coy, Claire Lifke, Erin Runta)

Introduction/Significance

• Story Time! (Caithness Coastline) 1

• As nonrenewable resources diminish, the need for renewable resources increases rapidly

• Wind Production became very popularHow can we use the vast oceans and the power it produces?

Underwater Wind Turbines!

1. (2011). A Rising Tide? Marine Energy in Scotland.

Live Sciencehttp://www.livescience.com/47188-ocean-turbines-renewable-energy.html

Current State of the Technology

• US Department of Energy is working on 100 foot wingspan turbines that provide enough energy to power 13,500 Americanhomes 24/71

• Steel monopiles add support to newer underwater wind turbines 2

• IPMC harvesters attached to the turbine blades3

1.Lewis, By Tanya. Underwater Ocean Turbines: A New Spin on Clean Energy?2.Brown, Jeff L. (2001) Monopiles Provide Key to Capturing Ocean Energy.3. Cellini, Filippo, et al. (2014) . Underwater Energy Harvesting from a Turbine Hosting Ionic Polymer Metal Composites.

Ecopediahttp://ecopedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Screen-shot-2013-03-02-at-12.12.38-PM.png

Current Challenges

• Concerns of clustered turbines impeding ocean currents 1

• Effects of cables and electric currents on the surrounding ecosystems 2

• Intense corrosion and marine growth resistance required 3

• High maintenance costs and low reliability = high risk 3

1. Lewis, Tanya. Underwater Ocean Turbines: A New Spin on Clean Energy?2. Ouhmalman, Marcus C. (2007). Offshore Windmills and the effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Fish.3. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Ocean Current Energy. The Guardian

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009

Future Improvements

• Can be built stronger and deeper into the ocean for better efficiency 1

• River current energy conversion systems2

• Models can be used to accurately predict the results3

1. Brookes, Kate, and Paul Thompson. (2014). Assessing Environmental Impacts of Offshore Wind Farms.2. Khan, M. J., M. T. Iqbal, and J. E. Quaicoe. River Current Energy Conversion Systems: Progress, Prospects and Challenges3. Cellini, Filippo, et al. (2014) Underwater Energy Harvesting from a Turbine Hosting Ionic Polymer Metal Composites