Ocean and Wave Ocean and Wave PowerPower

Adam Henry WesleyChicago Kent College of Law

awesley@kentlaw.eduahwesley@comcast.net

May, 2007

Ocean and Wave PowerOcean and Wave Power

• Why Ocean and Wave Power?Why Ocean and Wave Power?

• Technological FeasibilityTechnological Feasibility

• Cost competitiveness (measured Cost competitiveness (measured against fossil fuels)against fossil fuels)

Advantages of Offshore Ocean Advantages of Offshore Ocean Wave PowerWave Power

• Clean renewable source of energyClean renewable source of energy

• Nearly unlimitedNearly unlimited

• More Predictable than wind and sunMore Predictable than wind and sun

• Little environmental impactLittle environmental impact

• Not visible from shoreNot visible from shore

• Proximity to markets needing Proximity to markets needing electricityelectricity

World Coastal PopulationWorld Coastal Population

• 50% of the world's population 50% of the world's population currently live within sixty kilometers of currently live within sixty kilometers of the coast the coast

• By 2008, the world population will By 2008, the world population will exceed 6.7 billion peopleexceed 6.7 billion people

• 3.4 billion living on coast 3.4 billion living on coast

Potential World-Wide Wave Potential World-Wide Wave EnergyEnergy

• IEA (International Energy Agency) IEA (International Energy Agency) estimates that wave energy can estimates that wave energy can supply between 10 and 50% of world supply between 10 and 50% of world demand demand

• World demand of 15,000 TWh World demand of 15,000 TWh

World Energy Council World Energy Council EstimatesEstimates

• 2 terawatts of clean and accessible 2 terawatts of clean and accessible ocean energyocean energy

• Equivalent to twice the world’s Equivalent to twice the world’s current electricity generationcurrent electricity generation

World Energy Council 2001 World Energy Council 2001 Survey estimatesSurvey estimates

• 2 TW of exploitable wave power 2 TW of exploitable wave power worldwide worldwide

• 50% of the total European power 50% of the total European power consumption could be generated consumption could be generated from European coastal watersfrom European coastal waters

Independent market assessment Independent market assessment of wave energy economic of wave energy economic

contribution to electricity marketcontribution to electricity market • Estimated 2,000 TWh/yearEstimated 2,000 TWh/year

• 10% of world electricity consumption 10% of world electricity consumption

• Equal to current world-wide large Equal to current world-wide large scale hydroelectric projects scale hydroelectric projects

U.S. Coastal Population U.S. Coastal Population TrendsTrends• 17% of U.S. land is home to more than 17% of U.S. land is home to more than

half of the nation's population. half of the nation's population.

• 53 % of U.S population, (153 million people) lived on the U.S. coast. In 2003

• A 28% increase (A 28% increase (33 million people) since 1980.

U.S. Coastal Population U.S. Coastal Population TrendsTrends

• in 2003, 23 of the 25 most densely in 2003, 23 of the 25 most densely populated counties were coastal populated counties were coastal

• By the year 2008, coastal county By the year 2008, coastal county population is expected to increase by population is expected to increase by approximately 7 million approximately 7 million

U.S Coastal EstimatesU.S Coastal Estimates

• 2,300 Terawatt-hours per year or;2,300 Terawatt-hours per year or;

• $80.5 billion annually$80.5 billion annually

California Energy California Energy Commission EstimatesCommission Estimates

• California’s 1,100-mile coastline could California’s 1,100-mile coastline could generate:generate:– seven to 17 megawatts a mile, seven to 17 megawatts a mile, – enough power per mile to serve 13,000 homes enough power per mile to serve 13,000 homes

• Several hundred square miles off the Several hundred square miles off the California coast could supply all the homes California coast could supply all the homes in the state. in the state.

Technological MaturityTechnological Maturity

• Systems past proof of concept, Systems past proof of concept, deployed, and grid connecteddeployed, and grid connected

– AquaBuOYAquaBuOY

– Archimedes Wave SwingArchimedes Wave Swing

– Pelamis Pelamis

– Wave DragonWave Dragon

Proving GroundsProving Grounds• European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in

Orkney

• Established to commercialize marine energyEstablished to commercialize marine energy

• National Grid ConnectionNational Grid Connection– Wave and tidal energy converters are connected Wave and tidal energy converters are connected

via seabed cables running from open-water test via seabed cables running from open-water test berths berths

Based at Stromness in Orkney Based at Stromness in Orkney

AquaBuOY

Finavera Renewables CEO outlines ‘huge potential’ of ocean wave energy in address to United States

Congressional Committee

“My message to you today is simple: Ocean renewable energy’s time has come. This is not pie in the sky. We have

three wave energy projects under development in California, Oregon, and Washington, and we are in discussions about others. These are not just paper projects. We are literally

weeks away from issuing contracts that will put US steelworkers to work constructing our prototype wave

energy buoy, which we are going to install off the coast of Newport, Oregon this summer.”

Finavera Renewables Finavera Renewables AquaBuOYAquaBuOY

•1MW pilot plant in Makah Bay, Washington State, USA

•100MW staged power project in Portugal

•20MW staged project in South Africa

•Pilot project in BC, Canada

U.S. ProjectsU.S. Projects

• Finavera Renewables Makah Bay, Finavera Renewables Makah Bay, Washington StateWashington State

• 1 MW demonstration plant. 1 MW demonstration plant.

• 1500 MWh/year expected generation1500 MWh/year expected generation

• Powering 150 homes a yearPowering 150 homes a year

Archimedes Wave Swing or Archimedes Wave Swing or “AWS”“AWS”

AWS Ocean Energy AWS Ocean Energy

Device SpecificationsDevice Specifications

• Each AWS:Each AWS:– 800 ton 39 x 98 foot cylinder 800 ton 39 x 98 foot cylinder

– tethered to the seabed by cables 20 feet tethered to the seabed by cables 20 feet below the surface of the seabelow the surface of the sea

How it worksHow it works

• The AWS wave energy converter is a The AWS wave energy converter is a cylinder shaped buoycylinder shaped buoy

• Moored to the seabedMoored to the seabed    • Passing waves move an air-filled Passing waves move an air-filled

upper casing against a lower fixed upper casing against a lower fixed cylindercylinder

• The up and down movement The up and down movement converted into electricity converted into electricity

wave power wave power stationstation

Utility Scale Power Utility Scale Power Generation?Generation?• Continuous average output of up to 1MW in Continuous average output of up to 1MW in

a rough sea (Northern Atlantic)a rough sea (Northern Atlantic)

• Power output similar to one large wind Power output similar to one large wind turbineturbine

• A 50MW farm will occupy 3 nautical miles long by 2 cables wide.

• Enough electricity for 25,000 homes.

Utility Level PowerUtility Level Power

• Each AWS unit is currently rated at Each AWS unit is currently rated at 1.2 Megawatts 1.2 Megawatts

• Power approximately 2,000 Power approximately 2,000 householdshouseholds

• 50 AWS units would produce utility 50 AWS units would produce utility scale power in a small footprint scale power in a small footprint

• 1/3 the area required by current wind 1/3 the area required by current wind and solarand solar

Utility Scale PowerUtility Scale Power

• AWS plans to create a 100-machine AWS plans to create a 100-machine wave park at a cost of £250 millionwave park at a cost of £250 million

• Power production should exceed 100 Power production should exceed 100 MWMW

How long before utility scale How long before utility scale deployment?deployment?

•First AWS machine will be installed in Orkney in 2007

•First mini wave farm of Scottish waters by 2010

•Expanding within 12 months to 20 units

Requirements for a Requirements for a wave wave farmfarm • Exposure to ocean swells, Exposure to ocean swells,

• Water depth of 80-90m Water depth of 80-90m

• Near commercial shipping lanesNear commercial shipping lanes

• Industrial port within 12 sailing Industrial port within 12 sailing hourshours

• Sea-bed where power cables can be Sea-bed where power cables can be laid to shore laid to shore

AdvantagesAdvantages• Not visible (sub surface)Not visible (sub surface)

• Durability (one moving part)Durability (one moving part)

• No or minimal environmental damageNo or minimal environmental damage

• Scalability (limited only by suitable Scalability (limited only by suitable conditions) conditions)

AdvantagesAdvantages

• Units can be installed in close proximity Units can be installed in close proximity land to reduce:land to reduce:

– the cost of installation, the cost of installation,

– maintenance and maintenance and

– power loss in the underwater cable to grid power loss in the underwater cable to grid

Pelamis Wave Generator Power System(Ocean Power Delivery)

Ocean Power Delivery Ocean Power Delivery (Pelamis)(Pelamis)• Pelamis has a similar output to a modern Pelamis has a similar output to a modern

wind turbinewind turbine• Full-scale prototype is operationalFull-scale prototype is operational• Tested at the European Marine Energy Tested at the European Marine Energy

Centre in Orkney.Centre in Orkney.• A typical 30MW installation would occupy A typical 30MW installation would occupy

a square kilometer of ocean and provide a square kilometer of ocean and provide sufficient electricity for 20,000 homes sufficient electricity for 20,000 homes

• Twenty farms could power a city such as Twenty farms could power a city such as EdinburghEdinburgh

Large Pelamis ProjectsLarge Pelamis Projects

• World's biggest commercial wave World's biggest commercial wave project (Coast of Scotland)project (Coast of Scotland)

• Four Pelamis machinesFour Pelamis machines

• Deployment next 12 months. Deployment next 12 months.

Utility Scale Power?Utility Scale Power?

• The Orkney wave farm will generate The Orkney wave farm will generate three megawatts of electricity three megawatts of electricity

• Will power about 3,000 homesWill power about 3,000 homes

Pelamis Offshore Wave Energy in Portugal

• 28 wave power devices will be installed 28 wave power devices will be installed

in Portugal within a yearin Portugal within a year

• Generating 22.5 megawatts of Generating 22.5 megawatts of electricityelectricity

• The project is supported by state run The project is supported by state run power company power company Energias de PortugalEnergias de Portugal. .

Competitive Price Competitive Price RequirementsRequirements(wave power level of 15 kw per meter)(wave power level of 15 kw per meter)

Ocean Power TechnologiesOcean Power TechnologiesPowerBuoy® systems PowerBuoy® systems

How it worksHow it works

•The PowerBuoy is based on modular, ocean-going buoys

•The PowerBuoy™ is mounted on the sea bottom using anchoring system

•Ocean tested for nearly a decade.

Completed TestingCompleted Testing

• PowerBuoy™ in operation in Hawaii PowerBuoy™ in operation in Hawaii

• PowerBuoy™ off the coast of New PowerBuoy™ off the coast of New Jersey Jersey

U.S. Deployment U.S. Deployment Wave Park Douglas County Reedsport, Oregon

– As part of the initial program, OPT expects to install its ocean-tested PowerBuoy® systems initially generating a total of 2 MW

– 2.5 miles off the coast at a depth of 50 meters

– Preliminary permit by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for up to 50 MW system

Utility Scale DeploymentUtility Scale Deployment

• Petitioning the state of New Jersey Petitioning the state of New Jersey for permission to install a 100 MW for permission to install a 100 MW PowerBuoy™ plant off the coast of PowerBuoy™ plant off the coast of Atlantic City, New JerseyAtlantic City, New Jersey

Ocean Wave Generating Costs Ocean Wave Generating Costs

• The total operating cost of generating The total operating cost of generating power from an OPT wave power power from an OPT wave power station including maintenance and station including maintenance and operating expenses, as well as the operating expenses, as well as the amortized capital cost of the amortized capital cost of the equipment:equipment:

• projected (US) 3-4¢/ kWh for 100MWprojected (US) 3-4¢/ kWh for 100MW

• (US) 7-10¢/kWh for 1MW plants,. (US) 7-10¢/kWh for 1MW plants,.

Funding Funding

• Large government backed utility scale Large government backed utility scale projects coming onlineprojects coming online

• PortugalPortugal

• ScotlandScotland

• UKUK

Wave DragonWave Dragon

Operating PrincipleOperating Principle

Wave DragonWave Dragon

• Floating, slack-moored energy Floating, slack-moored energy converter of the overtopping type converter of the overtopping type

• Deployed in a single unit or in arraysDeployed in a single unit or in arrays

• Power plant capacity comparable to Power plant capacity comparable to traditional fossil based power plants.traditional fossil based power plants.

Utility Level PowerUtility Level Power

• 4 MW when deployed in a relatively 4 MW when deployed in a relatively low-energy (24 kW/m) wave climatelow-energy (24 kW/m) wave climate

• 7 MW when deployed in a 36 kW/m 7 MW when deployed in a 36 kW/m climate climate

AdvantagesAdvantages

• Combines existing, mature offshore and Combines existing, mature offshore and hydro turbine technology in a novel wayhydro turbine technology in a novel way

• Freely up-scaledFreely up-scaled• Maintenance can be carried out at sea Maintenance can be carried out at sea

leading to low O&M cost relatively to leading to low O&M cost relatively to other conceptsother concepts

• Most tested offshore Wave Energy Most tested offshore Wave Energy Converter (WEC) technology in the Converter (WEC) technology in the world world

DeploymentDeployment

• The prototype activities has The prototype activities has established the necessary knowledge established the necessary knowledge to deploy a full-scale Wave Dragon in to deploy a full-scale Wave Dragon in 2007 2007

Large Scale DeploymentsLarge Scale Deployments

• 50 MW wave farm Portugal 50 MW wave farm Portugal

• Awarded a major R&D contract with Awarded a major R&D contract with the European Commission (Multi-MW the European Commission (Multi-MW Unit)Unit)

Economic ViabilityEconomic Viability

• Electric Power Research Institute Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) suggests that generation of (EPRI) suggests that generation of electricity from wave energy may be electricity from wave energy may be economically feasible in the near economically feasible in the near future future

• In 2006 the Carbon Trust issued a report that identified that marine energy could provide a fifth of the UK’s current electricity needs and be cost-competitive with conventional generation

•The cost of wind energy have fallen by ~80% over the past two decades

•Opening costs for wave power:– half wind energy’s opening costs – a quarter the current cost of solar

Government Backing Government Backing

• Several countries have either Several countries have either installed or are about to install full-installed or are about to install full-scale prototypes scale prototypes

• Funds in excess of 70 million euros Funds in excess of 70 million euros have been committed to these have been committed to these installations installations

Government ProjectionsGovernment Projections

• The Scottish Executive's Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) Marine Energy Group report:

• potential for 7000 jobs in marine energy by 2020,

• 10% of Scotland's electricity being supplied by marine energy

• supplying more than 100MW per annum to export markets

• (see:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business Industry/infrastructure/19185/20368).

Compelling arguments for investing in Compelling arguments for investing in offshore wave energy technology.offshore wave energy technology.

• Environmentally benign ways to generate Environmentally benign ways to generate electricity electricity

• Little or no (NIMBY) issues that plague Little or no (NIMBY) issues that plague many energy infrastructure projects many energy infrastructure projects – Wave energy devices are generally not visible Wave energy devices are generally not visible

from shore from shore • Wave energy is more predictable than solar Wave energy is more predictable than solar

and wind energyand wind energy• High power density High power density

– (Solar and wind energy is concentrated into (Solar and wind energy is concentrated into ocean waves)ocean waves)

– easier and cheaper to harvest easier and cheaper to harvest

Risks and DrawbacksRisks and Drawbacks

• While wave energy is renewable and nonpolluting, it does While wave energy is renewable and nonpolluting, it does raise environmental and safety issues. These include: raise environmental and safety issues. These include:

• 1. disturbance or destruction of marine life, including 1. disturbance or destruction of marine life, including changes in the distribution and types of marine life near the changes in the distribution and types of marine life near the shore; shore;

• 2. possible threat to navigation from collisions due to the 2. possible threat to navigation from collisions due to the low profile of the wave energy devices above the water, low profile of the wave energy devices above the water, making them undetectable either by direct sighting or by making them undetectable either by direct sighting or by radar; radar;

• 3. interference with mooring and anchorage lines with 3. interference with mooring and anchorage lines with commercial and sport-fishing; and commercial and sport-fishing; and

• 4. degradation of ocean front views by wave energy devices 4. degradation of ocean front views by wave energy devices located near or on the shore, and from onshore overhead located near or on the shore, and from onshore overhead electric transmission lines.electric transmission lines.