Ocean Energy

Ocean Energy

INTRODUCTION

Why ocean energy was less utilized?

Ocean covers 71% of earth’s surface and it acts as natural collector and storehouse of solar energy. On an average day, 60 million sq.Km of tropical sea absorb an amount of solar energy radiation which is equivalent to the heat content of 245 billion barrel of oil

Moreover the energy is clean, continuous and renewable. Despite the promising analytical studies, the ocean power plants have not become commercially hit mainly due to engineering and design problems associated with such projects.

Ocean energy in the form of wave

A considerable amount of energy is present in the ocean waves pounding against a breakwater. However, it is not from the breaking waves that the energy can best be extracted. Waves are generated by the force of the wind blowing over the ocean’s surface. The regular breakers seen on most beaches originate at sea and can come from a variety of storms. The water’s surface acts like a great conveyor belt, delivering power from great distances.

Ocean wave energy utilization

To transform and utilize the energy of ocean waves can be regarded as a superior engineering solution than simply dissipating or reflecting it. Due to the present strive of many countries to strongly increase the renewable energy share of the electricity production, an intensive use of coastal and near-shore waters will be Inevitable and ocean wave energy utilisation is one potential contributor of the resulting energy mix. Therefore, it is important to find reasonable ways of implementing this renewable energy form.

To date, the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) can be considered as the wave power technology that is closest to maturity, due to intensive research and development efforts in various countries for over 20 years. At present stage of development, the integration of OWC caissons in vertical breakwaters can therefore be an important step to overcome the premature status of wave energy utilization.

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