2. What is Wave Energy?
• Waves are generated by the wind as it blows across the
sea surface. Energy is transferred from the wind to the
waves.
• Wave energy is sometimes confused with tidal energy,
which is quite different.
• Waves travel vast distances across oceans at great
speed. The longer and stronger the wind blows over
the sea surface, the higher, longer, faster and more
powerful the sea is.
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3. Advantages of wave energy
• Renewable: The best thing about wave energy
is that it will never run out. Unlike fossil fuels,
which are running out.The waves flow back
from the shore, but they always return.
• Environment Friendly: Also unlike fossil fuels,
creating power from waves creates no harmful
byproducts such as gas, waste and pollution
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4. Advantages of wave energy
• The energy is free - no fuel needed, no waste
produced.
• Not expensive to operate and maintain.
• Can produce a great deal of energy.
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5. Disadvantages of Wave Energy
• Suitable to Certain Locations:The biggest
disadvantage to getting your energy from the
waves is location. Only power plants and
towns near the ocean will benefit directly
from it.
• Effect on marine Ecosystem :As clean as wave
energy is, it still creates hazards for some of
the animals near it
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6. • Depends on the waves - sometimes you'll get
loads of energy, sometimes almost nothing.
• Needs a suitable site, where waves are
consistently strong.
• Must be able to withstand very rough weather.
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Disadvantages of Wave Energy
7. Comparing to other renewable
energy sources
• Northern CA: 30 kilowatt per m wave crest
(with storms 1 Megawatt per m)
• Solar energy: 300 watts per m2
• Wind energy: 800 watts per m2
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9. Renewable Energy Sources
• Ocean energy wave energy is behind wind and solar
energy developments
85% fossil based
8% nuclear
4% hydro
Less than 4% is Solar, Wind, Geothermal
8%
44%
48%
(6% geothermal, 2% solar and wind)
10. Types of devices for wave energy
• Surface Attenuator(pelamis)
• Oscillating Water Column (limpet)
• Point Absorber Buoy
• Overtopping Device
• Oscillating Wave Surge Converter
• Tidal Energy
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19. Benefits of Ocean Wave Energy
Why better than other renewable energies
• Available 24/7 on 365 days - therefore power
produced from them is much steadier and more
predictable – waves can be accurately predicted 48
hours in advance and therefore forecast energy
output (BUT irregularity in wave ampitude, and
direction)
• Good data on waves from wave monitoring bouys
• Wave energy contains 1000 times the kinetic energy
of wind (can produce the same amount of power in
less space)
