Kyoko Abe16 March 2010

OutlinesConceptTechnologyMarket StatusPotentialsProjection

Concept – What is wave energy? Waves are formed by the wind. The stronger and

longer distance of wind generates larger waves and energy.

Wave energy is a concentrated form of solar energy. The greatest amount of energy is available in deeper

well-exposed waters offshore.The capacity to harness the incident energy is larger

than that of wind or solar systems. (refer Fig.1)

Fig.1

TechnologiesDevices take energy out of the motion of the

water near surface and convert the action into movements that power generators to produce electricity.

Technologies

OWC

OPT

Pelamis

Near shore OWC

Market StatusThe primary market for wave energy is

electricity generation. There are opportunities to produce

mechanical energy for the desalination of, or mineral extraction from, sea water.

While still new technologies with high cost, significant improvements are predicted generating costs of devices. (5p/kWh or less at 8% discount rate)

Economically competitive in the market of isolated communities that are not connected to the grid.

Market Status- the U.K.The U.K. is situated at the end of long stormy fetch of

the Atlantic, where characterised by high wave energy.

Work on wave energy within the U.K. began in the early 1970s.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has supported R&D on smaller devices which are more economic.

Areas Studied for UK for wave energy resource assessment

PotentialsThe wave energy devices are less

environmentally degrading than others.

Limit potential for chemical pollutionLittle visual impact Low noise generationLess influence the coastal environmentLess CO2 emission than others

Projection- TechnologiesMultiple concepts such as wind-wave, wind-

tidal, or wave-tidal system may emerge as ocean energy exploration.

Projection- in the U.K. UK targets of 20% of

electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020.

A large share of the European deployment of marine energy devices by 2020 could occur in the UK.

Beyond 2020 the industry would turn to long-term off shore operation in the UK.

Further improvement of generating costs is expected as the same way as wind turbines.

2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

% in total renewable

energy

year

% of wave energy providing energy in total renewable energy