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Wave Energy

ENERGY CONVERSİON

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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• 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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Disadvantages of Wave Energy

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 based8% nuclear4% hydroLess than 4% is Solar, Wind, Geothermal

8%

44%

48%

(6% geothermal, 2% solar and wind)

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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Tidal Energy

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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