OVERVIEW
Kioto’s Protocol
in 1997 revealed the necessity of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and
consequently, many countries considered essential the contribution of renewable
energies to accomplish it. The total energy available in the oceans would be
enough to supply the world’s demand, but to achieve this it would be necessary
the enforcement of technologies that exist nowadays but are still at present in
an immature stage of development.
Moreover, in the actual energetic context set by a globalized environment where global demand increases while fossil resources start to scarce in an unstable fuel market, and the amount of pollutant gases emitted is becoming a social concern, the necessity of a new sustainable energetic model becomes a crucial condition.
In the United Kingdom the research and exploitation of waves as energy source started in 1973 as a response to the first oil crisis. In France, in 1966 the biggest tidal barrage plant was installed, and therefore now there is significant experience which has helped in development.
The modern concepts are progressing to widen the horizon of marine resources. There are now designs that take advantage of tidal currents and of the thermal difference of water. Nevertheless, as well as all the potential obtainable, there are also plenty of limitations. These technologies have difficulties and cannot be deployed globally as are dependent on factors such as high tidal ranges, big thermal variations, powerful currents or wave regimes.
This project will focus on wave energy, one of the major global resources. In Europe alone it could provide a 15% of the electricity demand. Different devices with different operation principles for wave energy exploitation have been proposed, but the best exploitation technology remains unclear. Due to the immature technology and the early stages in progress where wave energy still remains, costs during this stages are incapable of competing with other conventional resources, and makes difficult the commercialisation. Furthermore, considering the operation requirements that wave energy devices need to fulfil in order to overcome ocean’s hostile environment, this technology becomes even more expensive.
What is clear is that there is significant environmental benefit related to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions that can be equated to the economic component. Although it is still very high until the technologies become more established, it is an energy that should not be undervalued.
Moreover, in the actual energetic context set by a globalized environment where global demand increases while fossil resources start to scarce in an unstable fuel market, and the amount of pollutant gases emitted is becoming a social concern, the necessity of a new sustainable energetic model becomes a crucial condition.
In the United Kingdom the research and exploitation of waves as energy source started in 1973 as a response to the first oil crisis. In France, in 1966 the biggest tidal barrage plant was installed, and therefore now there is significant experience which has helped in development.
The modern concepts are progressing to widen the horizon of marine resources. There are now designs that take advantage of tidal currents and of the thermal difference of water. Nevertheless, as well as all the potential obtainable, there are also plenty of limitations. These technologies have difficulties and cannot be deployed globally as are dependent on factors such as high tidal ranges, big thermal variations, powerful currents or wave regimes.
This project will focus on wave energy, one of the major global resources. In Europe alone it could provide a 15% of the electricity demand. Different devices with different operation principles for wave energy exploitation have been proposed, but the best exploitation technology remains unclear. Due to the immature technology and the early stages in progress where wave energy still remains, costs during this stages are incapable of competing with other conventional resources, and makes difficult the commercialisation. Furthermore, considering the operation requirements that wave energy devices need to fulfil in order to overcome ocean’s hostile environment, this technology becomes even more expensive.
What is clear is that there is significant environmental benefit related to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions that can be equated to the economic component. Although it is still very high until the technologies become more established, it is an energy that should not be undervalued.
