Ocean Energy Basics
What is the percentage of Earth’s surface covered by oceans?
About 71% of Earth’s surface is covered by oceans.
What does an OTEC system use to generate power?
OTEC uses temperature differences between warm surface and cold deep water to produce energy
What does a Wave Energy Converter (WEC) do?
A Wave Energy Converter (WEC) captures energy from surface waves.
What is the minimum recommended tidal range for tidal power plants to operate efficiently?
A minimum tidal range of about 5 meters is needed for effective tidal power generation.
What are three major advantages of ocean energy?
Ocean energy is renewable, predictable, and available worldwide.
What are the two main types of energy stored in the ocean?
The ocean stores thermal energy (from the sun) and mechanical energy (from tides and waves).
What is the minimum temperature difference needed for an OTEC system to function?
A minimum of 20°C temperature difference is needed.
How do Oscillating Water Column devices generate electricity?
Oscillating Water Columns (OWC) use rising and falling water to move air through a turbine.
What causes the tides that tidal power systems rely on?
Tidal energy comes from the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun on Earth’s oceans.
What is one major economic challenge of ocean energy systems?
Ocean energy systems can be expensive to build and maintain, especially in harsh marine environments.
Why is ocean energy more consistent than solar or wind energy?
Ocean energy is more consistent because tides and currents follow predictable patterns, unlike changing weather.
Where does OTEC work best?
The process works best in tropical regions where temperature differences are largest.
What is the Wave Dragon and where was it developed?
The Wave Dragon (Denmark) is a floating overtopping device that collects wave water into a reservoir.
How do tidal power plants produce electricity?
Tidal power plants generate electricity when rising and falling tides move water through turbines.
What are some environmental concerns with ocean energy?
Marine ecosystems can be affected by noise, construction, and habitat changes from ocean energy devices
What are the three main types of ocean energy systems?
The three main types of ocean energy conversion are wave energy, tidal energy, and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC).
What are the two main types of OTEC systems?
OTEC systems can be closed-cycle or open-cycle, depending on how they use seawater to generate power.
What was the first U.S. on-shore wave energy project?
The Eco Wave Power project in Los Angeles was the U.S.’s first on-shore wave energy system.
What are some advantages and disadvantages of tidal energy?
Tidal energy is predictable and renewable, but building plants can disrupt marine ecosystems and require high upfront costs.
Why isn’t ocean energy widely used yet?
Ocean energy technologies are still in early development stages, needing better efficiency and durability before large-scale use.
What is the estimated total wave energy potential of the world’s oceans per year?
The total theoretical wave energy potential of the world’s oceans is estimated at around 29,500 terawatt-hours (TWh) per year.
What are two major challenges of OTEC systems?
High cost and limited suitable locations due to temperature requirements.
What is the name of China’s first large-scale floating wave energy generator?
China’s Nakun device is a megawatt-scale floating platform that generates electricity from waves.
What is the name of the world’s first large tidal power station and where is it located?
The Rance Tidal Power Station in France, built in 1966, was the world’s first large-scale tidal power plant.
Why would combining different ocean energy systems improve overall reliability and sustainability?
Integrating wave, tidal, and OTEC systems allows continuous power generation, since each type captures energy under different ocean conditions.