planet, and its waves contain powerful energy! This wave energy has great potential to provide humanity with a renewable energy source that could help humanity transition to a sustainable energy future.
However, actually being able to harness that energy is proving to be more challenging than it might seem. The following are many of the advantages and disadvantages of using wave power as an energy source.
Advantages of wave power
Clean and green
Because it uses only the energy of ocean waves, wave energy does not produce greenhouse gases or other pollutants like fossil fuels do.
Renewable and reliable
Waves are a material that cannot be used up like other conventional forms of energy such as oil, natural gas, and coal, and we won’t run out of waves any time soon. Waves will continue to hit coastlines worldwide, and therefore, they can serve as a reliable source of energy.
Worldwide potential
With an estimated worldwide electricity-generating potential of 2 terawatts (TW) from waves, there are many opportunities to develop this technology into one of many resources for our renewable energy future.
Efficient energy production
The energy density of waves along shorelines is approximately 30-40 kW/m of waves, and further out into the ocean, most waves can generate 100 kW/meter of electricity. Less than ½ mile2 of ocean has the potential to generate more than 30 MW of power, which is enough energy to power 20,000 British homes.
Can be built offshore
While wave energy devices can be built near shorelines, they can also be built offshore, which reduces shoreline conflicts of use such as recreation and fishing.
Low operation costs
Once they have been built, wave energy devices can be free to operate by themselves, unless the equipment malfunctions or damage occurs.
Minimum visual impact
Wave energy devices can be installed to be mostly or entirely submerged beneath the water. The devices can be installed far enough from shore to allow for minimal visual impact.
No fuel cost
Because wave energy uses no fuel, this dramatically lowers the cost of device operation.
No pollution or death
Unlike oil spills and pollution and death from fossil fuels like coal, there is virtually no pollution from the generation of electricity from waves.
Size advantage
Wave energy devices can be tailored to meet electricity demand, and therefore can be manufactured at different sizes that are appropriate for each location. In contrast, fossil fuels generally require large facilities in order to produce electricity.
Disadvantages of wave power
Current high cost of investment
Because wave energy is still in the developmental stage, it is very costly to build wave devices. As the technology improves and the demand for renewable energy technologies increases, the costs of investment and construction of wave energy technology are expected to decrease.
Maintenance and weather effects
Equipment that is exposed to rugged oceanic conditions 24/7 can lead to damage to wave equipment and to corrosion from salty seawater, requiring maintenance. Oceanic storms such as hurricanes are particularly damaging to wave equipment.
Marine life impacts
Marine life may be harmed or displaced, or their habitats negatively impacted by the construction of wave energy devices.
Reduced sea usage
The physical presence of wave energy device “farms” could potentially reduce the size of shipping channels, as well as opportunities for recreation and fishing.
Few implemented
Thus far, only a few pilot wave energy projects have been constructed globally. Further research is necessary to determine the the lifespan of the equipment, the associated costs with running the devices, and the impacts of these machines on both human and marine life.
Noise
Constantly running wave energy devices can be much noisier than waves are naturally, and this could potentially be disruptive to both humans and sea life living near these devices.
Slow technology improvements
Wave energy has been developing since the 1700s, and yet it is still a nascent technology that needs to be more fully developed. This slow development is an impediment to investment in this type of renewable energy.
Difficult to transmit wave energy
It is currently very challenging to transport ocean wave-generated electricity long distances to where it will be consumed inland.
Visual impacts
For those people living near ocean shorelines, some types of wave energy devices can be unsightly and interfere with ocean views.
Conclusion
There is great potential for wave energy to become a major renewable energy source in the future. Future research and development is needed to improve the technology and durability of the equipment, as well as to identify, reduce, and potentially mitigate the negative impacts that this technology has upon marine life and the human use and enjoyment of the sea.
Environmental dis-benefits? What about all these off-shore wind turbines? Surely they are just as disruptive and are certainly more visually intrusive. Not to mention hazards to shipping. Why not put the wave power machines in the same fields as the wind turbines??
Guest
Ron Shuttleworth
When viewing long tube-like wave energy machines it is impressive how they transform large powerful waves into little more than ripples. I know that the most energy would come from our wilder Western coasts, but has anybody looked at using them to protect the Eastern and Southern coasts that are under threat from tidal erosion? You would not get so much power but it would be close to areas that could use it. Also, instead of protests from environmentalists, there would be a welcome from people whose land and property is under threat. When the cost of installation is considered… Read more »
Guest
cosma vasile
Some information for patent “Dynamic Engine” can be found on: – Ocean energy: Wave energy | Climate TechWiki – “First Wave Energy Device Connected to Power Grid | Science”
This was very helpful Thanks for the one who wrote this
Guest
cosma vasile
Did you know that Romania has a technical solution with the highest efficiency to capture wave power?. Patent 108893 entitled Dynamic Engine for Sea Wave Energy Catching. A pioneering invention. It is estimated that “dynamic engine” has the ability to catching wave energy at a rate of over 80% while the other technical solutions known worldwide, are not able to capture wave energy with a higher
Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. Our goal is to inspire people to change their attitudes and behaviors toward a more sustainable life. Read more about our story here.
Environmental dis-benefits? What about all these off-shore wind turbines? Surely they are just as disruptive and are certainly more visually intrusive. Not to mention hazards to shipping. Why not put the wave power machines in the same fields as the wind turbines??
When viewing long tube-like wave energy machines it is impressive how they transform large powerful waves into little more than ripples. I know that the most energy would come from our wilder Western coasts, but has anybody looked at using them to protect the Eastern and Southern coasts that are under threat from tidal erosion? You would not get so much power but it would be close to areas that could use it. Also, instead of protests from environmentalists, there would be a welcome from people whose land and property is under threat. When the cost of installation is considered… Read more »
Some information for patent “Dynamic Engine” can be found on:
– Ocean energy: Wave energy | Climate TechWiki
– “First Wave Energy Device Connected to Power Grid | Science”
Link for patent “Dynamic Engine”
http://bd.osim.ro/pdf/108000-/108800-/108893.pdf
This was very helpful Thanks for the one who wrote this
Did you know that Romania has a technical solution with the highest efficiency to capture wave power?.
Patent 108893 entitled Dynamic Engine for Sea Wave Energy Catching. A pioneering invention. It is estimated that “dynamic engine” has the ability to catching wave energy at a rate of over 80% while the other technical solutions known worldwide, are not able to capture wave energy with a higher
Thank you for this comment! That is very interesting. Didn’t know that. Perhaps we should write an article about it ;).