ENERGY CONVERSİON

Wave Energy

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 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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 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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 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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 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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 Disadvantages of Wave Energy

• 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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 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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 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% (6% geothermal, 2% solar and wind)

44%
48%
 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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 Surface Attenuator
(also called pelamis)

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Surface Attenuator

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Oscillating Wave Surge Converter

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Oscillating Water Column

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Overtopping Device

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Point Absorber Buoy

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 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)
THANK YOU

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