Chapter 10 Ocean-Energy
Chapter 10 Ocean-Energy
Kim Cobb
with slides from Dr. Alam, MIT
Overview of Ocean Energy
-ocean energy is replenished by the sun and through tidal influences of the
moon’s and sun’s gravitational forces
-tides cause strong currents into and out of coastal basins and rivers
-ocean surface heating by some 70% of the incoming sunlight adds to the
surface water thermal energy, causing expansion and flow
-wind energy is stronger over the ocean due to less drag, although
technically, only seabreezes are from ocean energy
How much energy and what types?
-250 Billion barrels of oil worth of energy coming into ocean every day
kinetic
potential
Powers of 10
• 1 exajoule = 1.0E+18 joules
• 1 kiloWatt.Hr - 1000 Wh E+3
• 1 megaWatt. Hr - 1,000,000 Wh E+6
• 1 gigaWatt .H- 1,000,000,000 Wh E+9
• teraWatt . H. - 1,000,000,000,000 Wh E+12
How much energy and what types?
-250 Billion barrels of oil worth of energy coming into ocean every day
Ocean Power Technology buoy, to best tested this month off Oregon
will power 50 homes. Federal permit obtained for grid-connection.
Oscillating Water Column Installations: LAND
Tidal:
- barriers: 240MW France in 1966 and 20MW in Canada
-Current: 1.2MW off Ireland by 2009, 1MW France
Thermal:
-0.2MW Hawaii 1993-1998
Ocean Energy: PROS and CONS?