AMaterialSheikh

Bangabandhu Science & Engineering

Mujibur Rahman Science
and Technology University, Gopalgaonj-8100

An Assignment On
Renewable energy: Wind energy, Solar energy & Tidal Wave
energy.

Course Code: ACCE 301

Course Title: Fuel and Energy Engineering

Submitted By
Name: Md. Shakil Miah
Student Id: 18ACE016
Submitted To
Session: 2018-2019
Name: Md. Lawshan Habib
rd
Year: 3
Assistant Professor,
Semester: 1st Department: Applied Chemistry
Department: Applied and Chemical Engineering,
Chemistry and Chemical BSMRSTU
Engineering, BSMRSTU

Date of Submission: 12th January,2023

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Renewable Energy: Wind Energy, Solar Energy & Tidal Wave
Energy
Renewable Energy: Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable
resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale and do not run out. Non-renewable
energy, in contrast, comes from finite sources that could get used up, such as fossil fuels like coal
and oil. Renewable energy can be used for electricity generation, space and water heating and
cooling, and transportation.

Types of Renewable Energy: Renewable energy sources, such as biomass, geothermal

resources, sunlight, water, and wind, are natural resources that can be converted into these types
of clean, usable energy:

o Biomass
o Biogas
o Geothermal Energy
o Hydropower
o Marine Energy
o Solar Energy
o Wind Energy

Figure 1: Ratio of different renewable energy sources in Bangladesh.

Benefits of Renewable Energy: The advantages of renewable energy are numerous and
affect the economy, environment, national security, and human health. Here are some of the
benefits of using renewable energy in our country.

o Enhanced reliability, security, and resilience of the nation’s power grid

o Job creation throughout renewable energy industries
o Reduced carbon emissions and air pollution from energy production

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 o Increased energy independence
o Increased affordability, as many types of renewable energy are cost-competitive with
traditional energy sources
o Expanded clean energy access for non-grid-connected or remote, coastal, or islanded
communities.

Wind Energy

Introduction to Wind Energy: As fossil energy supplies dwindle, the development of

alternative energy sources has become a necessity. Simultaneously, global energy demand is
increasingly rising, placing the planet on the brink of a global energy crisis. Furthermore, the
widespread use of traditional energy sources pollutes the atmosphere and leads to global
warming. Wind and other renewable energy sources, on the other hand, are feasible and clean
alternatives to fossil fuels. Wind is one of the most cost-effective and efficient renewable energy
sources because of its low operating costs and broad availability. One of the fastest-growing
clean energy technologies is wind power. Globally, consumption is growing, partially due to
lower prices.

According to IRENA's latest statistics, global installed wind-generation capacity onshore and
offshore has increased by nearly 75 times in the last two decades, from 7.5 gigawatts (GW) in
1997 to 564 GW in 2018. Wind energy production more than doubled between 2009 and 2013,
accounting for 16 per cent of all renewable energy generation in 2016. Wind speeds are high in
many parts of the world, but the best locations for producing wind power are often remote.
Offshore wind power has a lot of promise.

Definition of wind energy: Wind power is a type of energy conversion in which turbines
transform wind kinetic energy into mechanical or electrical energy that may be utilized as
commercial wind turbines generate electricity by harnessing rotational energy to power a
generator. They are composed of a blade or rotor and an enclosure known as a nacelle, which
houses a drive train atop a tall tower. The biggest turbines can generate 4.8–9.5 megawatts of
electricity, with rotor diameters that can exceed 162 meters (531 feet), and are mounted to towers
that may reach 240 meters (787 feet).
Wind energy is the most established and mature renewable energy source. It creates electricity by
using the kinetic energy created by the influence of air currents. It is a clean and renewable energy
source that decreases greenhouse gas emissions and protects the environment.

Wind Energy Basics: Wind is produced naturally when the sun heats the atmosphere, from
variations in the surface of the Earth, and from the planet's rotation. Wind can then increase or
decrease as a result of the influence of bodies of water, forests, meadows and other vegetation, and
elevation changes. Wind patterns and speeds vary significantly across terrain, as well as
seasonally, but some of those patterns are predictable enough to plan around.

Site Selection: The best locations to place a wind turbine are the tops of rounded hills, on open
plains (or open water for offshore wind), and mountain passes where wind is naturally funneled
through (producing regular high wind speeds). Generally, the higher the elevation the better, since

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higher elevations usually have more wind. Wind energy forecasting is an important tool for siting
a wind turbine. There are a variety of wind speed maps and data from the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in
the U.S. that provide these details. Then, a site-specific survey should be done to assess the local
wind conditions and to determine the best direction to place the wind turbines for maximum
efficiency. For at least a year, projects on land track wind speed, turbulence, and direction, as well
as air temperatures and humidity. Once that information is determined, turbines that will deliver
predictable results can be built.

Wind isn't the only factor for siting turbines. Developers for a wind farm must consider how
close the farm is to transmission lines (and cities that can utilize the power); possible interference
to local airports and plane traffic; underlying rock and faults; flight patterns of birds and bats;
and local community impact (noise and other possible effects).Most larger wind projects are
designed to last at least 20 years, if not more, so these factors must be considered over the long
term.

Types of Wind Energy:

Utility Scale Wind Energy: These are large-scale wind projects designed to be used as a source
of energy for a utility company. They are similar in scope to a coal-fired or natural gas power
plant, which they sometimes replace or supplement. Turbines exceed 100 kilowatts of power in
size and are usually installed in groups to provide significant power—currently these types of
systems provide about 8.4% of all energy in the United States.

Figure 2: Utility Scale Wind Energy

Offshore Wind Energy: These are generally utility-scale wind energy projects that are planned
in the waters off coastal areas. They can generate tremendous power near larger cities (which
tend to cluster closer to shore in much of the United States). Wind blows more consistently and
strongly in offshore areas than in land, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Based on the
organization's data and calculations, the potential for offshore wind energy in the U.S. is more
than 2,000 gigawatts of power, which is two times the generating capacity of all U.S. electric
power plants.

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 Figure 3: Offshore Wind Energy

Small Scale or Distributed Wind Energy: This type of wind energy is the opposite of the
examples above. These are wind turbines that are smaller in physical size and are used to meet
the energy demands of a specific site or local area. Sometimes, these turbines are connected to
the larger energy distribution grid, and sometimes they are off-grid. Smaller installations (5
kilowatt size) in residential settings, where they might provide some or most of a home's needs,
depending on weather, and medium-sized versions (20 kilowatts or so) at industrial or
community sites, where they might be part of a renewable energy system that also includes solar
power, geothermal, or other energy sources.

Figure 4: Small Scale or Distributed Wind Energy

How Does Wind Energy Work? The function of a wind turbine is to use blades of some
shape (which can vary) to catch the wind's kinetic energy. As the wind flows over the blades, it
lifts them, just like it lifts a sail to push a boat. That push from the wind makes the blades turn,

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moving the drive shaft that they're connected to. That shaft then turns a pump of some kind—
whether directly moving a piece of stone over grain (windmill), or pushing that energy into a
generator that creates electricity that can be used right away or stored in a battery.

Figure 5: Wind Energy work mechanism

The process for an electricity-generating system (wind turbine) includes the following
steps:

Wind Pushes Blades: Ideally, a windmill or wind turbine is located in a place with regular and
consistent winds. That air movement pushes specially designed blades that allow the wind to
push them as easily as possible. Blades can be designed so they are pushed upwind or downwind
of their location.

Kinetic Energy is Transformed: Kinetic energy is the free energy that comes from the wind.
For us to be able to use or store that energy, it needs to be changed into a usable form of power.
Kinetic energy is transformed into mechanical energy when the wind meets the windmill blades
and pushes them. The movement of the blades then turns a drive shaft.

Electricity Is Generated: In a wind turbine, a spinning drive shaft is connected to a gearbox that
increases the speed of the rotation by a factor of 100—which in turn spins a generator. Therefore,
the gears end up spinning much faster than the blades being pushed by the wind. Once these
gears reach a fast enough speed, they can power a generator that produces electricity.

The gearbox is the most expensive and heavy part of the turbine, and engineers are working on
direct drive generators that can operate at lower speeds (so they don't need a gear box).

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Transformer Converts Electricity: The electricity produced by the generator is 60-cycle AC
(alternating current) electricity. A transformer may be needed to convert that to another type of
electricity, depending on local needs.

Electricity Is Used or Stored: Electricity produced by a wind turbine might be used on site
(more likely to be true in small or medium-sized wind projects), it could be delivered to
transmission lines for use right away, or it could be stored in a battery. More efficient battery
storage is key for advancements in wind energy in the future. Increased storage capacity means
that on days when the wind blows less, stored electricity from windier days could supplement it.
Wind variability would then become less of an obstacle for reliable electricity from wind.

Wind turbines:
Wind power has been utilized since antiquity to propel sail-powered vessels or to power mill gear
that moves mill blades. Wind turbines have been used to generate electricity since the early
twentieth century. The wind propels a propeller, which turns the rotor of a generator, which
generates power, via a mechanical system. Wind turbines are frequently clustered together in wind
farms to maximize energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The machines have a
twenty-year lifetime.
Wind energy, also known as wind power, is generated by employing a wind turbine, which is a
device that harnesses the strength of the wind to generate electricity. The wind blows the turbine's
blades, which are linked to a rotor that further rotates a generator. Wind turbines are classified into
two types: horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) and vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs)
(VAWTs). The most prevalent form of the wind turbine is the HAWT. They often feature two or
three long, thin blades, similar to an airplane propeller. The blades are oriented to face straight
towards the wind. VAWTs feature shorter, broader curved blades that resemble electric mixer
beaters.
Individual wind turbines may generate 100 kilowatts of power, which is enough to power a house.
Small wind turbines are also employed in locations such as water pumping facilities. Wind turbines
that are slightly bigger perch on towers that can reach 80 meters (260 feet) in height and have rotor
blades that can reach 40 meters (130 feet) in length. Wind turbines with rotor blades that are more
than 162 meters (531 feet) long can be seen sitting on towers that rise 240 meters (787 feet) tall.

Working principle of a turbine:

Wind turbines operate on a simple principle: rather than using energy to create wind (like a fan
does), wind turbines utilize the wind to create power. Wind moves a turbine's propeller-like blades
around a rotor, which spins a generator, which generates energy.
The wind is a type of solar energy created by three simultaneous events:
o The sun heats the atmosphere unevenly.

o Surface irregularities of the Earth

o The earth's rotation.
The words "wind energy" and "wind power" both refer to the act of harnessing wind energy to
create mechanical power or electricity. This mechanical power can be employed for specific
activities (such as grinding grain or pumping water), or it can be converted into energy via a
generator.

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Small wind turbines are commonly employed in scattered applications. Single tiny wind turbines
with a capacity of fewer than 100 kilowatts are primarily utilized for residential, agricultural, and
small commercial and industrial uses.

Uses of wind energy:

Some of the uses of wind energy are mentioned below.
o generating electricity.

o milling grain.
o pumping water.
o powering cargo ships (via kites)
o reducing carbon footprint.
o sailing.
o windsurfing.
o land surfing.
Once created, power can be utilized, linked to the electrical grid, or stored for later use.

Wind Energy Pros and Cons:

Pros:

o When properly placed, wind energy can produce low-cost and nonpolluting electricity
about 90% of the time.
o There is minimal waste generated by a wind farm—nothing needs to be carted away and
dumped, no water supply is needed to cool machinery, and there's no effluent to scrub or
clean.
o Once installed, wind turbines have a low operating cost, as wind is free.
o It's space flexible: We can use a small turbine to power a home or farm building, a large
turbine for industrial energy needs, or a field of giant turbines to create a power plant-
level source of energy for a city.

Cons:

o Wind reliability can vary. In addition, weak or strong winds will shut down a turbine and
electricity won't be produced at all.
o Turbines can be noisy depending on where they are placed, and some people don't like
the way they look. Home wind turbines might offend neighbors.
o Wind turbines have been found to harm wildlife, especially birds and bats.
o They have a high initial cost, though they pay for themselves relatively quickly.

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 Solar Energy

Introduction to Solar Energy:

Solar energy in Bangladesh is becoming more and more mainstream. In a country reliant on
fossil fuels to produce most of its energy, solar grids and solar-powered water pumps are helping
farmers save money and economy to develop in the right way.
As of 2017, Bangladesh has the world’s largest Solar Home System (SHS), with about 5 million
SHS in the country. The organization leading the charge in developing this technology
is Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), which has been developing SHS
technology for Bangladesh since 2003.
Bangladesh has also been investing in solar irrigation pumps. The country plans on replacing the
1.3 million irrigation pumps currently running on diesel with solar, with 617 already been
installed as of 2017. It is estimated that replacing all of the diesel water pumps will generate
10,000 megawatts of solar energy.

Definition of Solar Energy:

Solar energy is defined as the transformation of energy that is present in the sun and is one of
the renewable energies. Once the sunlight passes through the earth’s atmosphere, most of it is in
the form of visible light and infrared radiation. Plants use it to convert into sugar and starches;
this conversion process is known as photosynthesis. Solar cell panels are used to convert this
energy into electricity.
Types of Solar Energy: Solar energy can be classified into two categories depending upon
the mode of conversion and type of energy it is converted into. Passive solar energy and active
solar energy belong to the mode of conversion and solar thermal energy, photovoltaic solar
power and concentrating solar power.

o Passive solar energy refers to trapping the sun’s energy without using mechanical
devices.
o Active solar energy uses mechanical devices to collect, store, and distribute energy.
o Solar thermal energy: This energy is obtained by converting solar energy into heat.
o Photovoltaic solar power is the energy obtained by converting solar energy into
electricity.
o Concentrating solar power: This is a type of thermal energy used to generate solar power
electricity.

How Does Solar Energy Work? The amount of sunlight that strikes the earth's surface in
an hour and a half is enough to handle the entire world's energy consumption for a full year.
Solar technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy either through photovoltaic (PV) panels
or through mirrors that concentrate solar radiation. This energy can be used to generate
electricity or be stored in batteries or thermal storage. While every location on Earth receives
some sunlight over a year, the amount of solar radiation that reaches any one spot on the Earth’s

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surface varies. Solar technologies capture this radiation and turn it into useful forms of energy.

Figure 6: Solar energy capture mechanism

There are two main types of solar energy technologies—photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating
solar-thermal power (CSP).

o Photovoltaics Basics: We're likely most familiar with PV, which is utilized in solar
panels. When the sun shines onto a solar panel, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by
the PV cells in the panel. This energy creates electrical charges that move in response to
an internal electrical field in the cell, causing electricity to flow.
o Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Basics: Concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP)
systems use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect solar
energy and convert it to heat, which can then be used to produce electricity or stored for
later use. It is used primarily in very large power plants.

Solar Energy Project: Solar energy – the experiment on the efficiency of the solar heating
working model is one of the easiest science experiments that you can prepare for your school fair
science project. This working model is quick, simple and very informative.

The result may vary if the project is performed outdoors due to the wind and weather conditions,
so it is recommended to conduct the experiment indoors.

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In this solar heater project, reflectors concentrate the solar energy in one small place to collect
and store heat energy. In this experiment, you will see the efficiency of solar energy.

Figure 7: Solar energy project

Materials Required

1. A wooden stand
2. Thermometer
3. A concave or converging mirror
4. Tube to flow liquid.
5. Black paper

Procedure

1. Mount the wooden stand

2. Roll pieces of black paper around the tube.
3. Attach the tube in the concave mirror in a way where the sunlight concentrates in one
direction.
4. Fill the tube with tap water
5. After 30 minutes, record the temperature of the tube.

Observations: To calculate the efficiency of the concave mirror solar heater, you can divide
the temperature increase by the direct sunlight. Eventually, the temperature of the water
increases after 30 minutes as the heat is transferred through the concave mirror and concentrated
on the tube.

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Solar Energy Advantages and Disadvantages:

Advantages of solar energy are:

o Clean: It is considered to be the cleanest form of energy as there is no carbon dioxide

emission like in the case of fossil fuels which is one of the causes of global warming.
o Renewable: There is ample energy available on earth as long as the sun exists.
o Reliable: The energy can be stored in the batteries, so there is no unreliability.
o reduction in utility costs.
o Free energy because it can be trapped easily.

Disadvantages of solar energy:

o The production is low during winters and on cloudy days.

o Installation and the initial cost of the materials are expensive.
o Space consumption is more.

Prospects of Solar Energy in Bangladesh: Solar energy is regarded as the most plentiful
and potential sources of renewable

Table 1. Government’s year-wise target of electricity production from different renewable

energy sources (MW).

This energy can be utilized in two different processes: 1) Thermal; 2) Photovoltaic (PV) process.
In thermal process the heat exhausted from solar energy is mainly stored for heating purpose,

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purifying water, generating power, etc. While in PV process the light (solar) energy is converted
into electricity, which can be used for many purposes like lighting, pumping, delivering
electricity in remote areas where grid electricity is not available, etc. Solar PV system has been
widely used for global electricity generation, sharing around 2.7% of total electricity generation.
The uses of solar PV system are increasing progressively in many countries to cross the
Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS) level by 2030. In 2019 the amount of generated PV
based electric power was 720 TW (global) and keeping this value as a reference it is estimated
that an increase of 15% (annually) of PV based electricity generation is required to obtain 3300
TW (terawatt) by. Due to its geographical location, Bangladesh has also high potentiality of
applying solar irradiation to generate electricity. The country absorbs average solar radiation of
4.0 to 6.5 kWh/m2 per day, which is capable of producing 1018 × 1018 J of energy. From this
high amount of solar energy only 0.11% is used to meet the country’s primary energy
consumption. Figure 8 shows the average monthly solar radiation that falls on some selected
districts of Bangladesh, whereas Figure 9 shows the average bright sunshine hours at the capital
Dhaka City. The abundant solar energy in Bangladesh may reduce the traditional fossil fuel-
based power production. It may also ensure a green environment for future

Figure 8: Solar radiation in some selected districts of Bangladesh

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 Figure 9: Per month bright sunshine hours at the Capital (Dhaka)

generations. Hence, at present the government of Bangladesh is giving much importance on the
usage of solar energy and conducting several activities through different public and private
organizations

Problems Of Solar Energy In Bangladesh:

1. Lack of Private Incentives: There needs to be more disseminating information about project
viability, risk, and return for private investors. Credit ratings for such projects are not as high as
those in India. Domestic financial institutions and commercial banks must be sufficiently
equipped for large-scale infrastructure financing. Due to this reason, they are facing the need for
more incentive that slows down the growth of renewable generation.

2. Land Requirements: The existence of population is one of the significant problems of Bangladesh.
There needs to be more viable land required for large-scale solar projects. The government owns most
of the possible land, which further discourages the private investors' scope. As per the current SREDA’s
current renewable energy development plan, it has been stated that solar parks are only built on non-
agricultural, government-owned land. In addition, viable land is also at risk of environmental shocks due
to Bangladesh’s vulnerability to natural disasters and flooding.

3. Deficiencies in Grid Infrastructure: Bangladesh has a generation capacity; actual generation

and distribution often need to be improved by process loss and underdeveloped grid
infrastructure.

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Uses Of Solar Energy:

o Water heating: Solar energy is used to replace electric heaters and gas as efficiency is
more with 15-30%.
o Heating of swimming pools: Solar blankets are used to keep the pool warm. The other
way is by using a solar water heater to keep the water warm.
o Cooking purposes: Solar cookers are used for cooking food. Solar energy is used to heat,
cook and pasteurize food. A solar cooker consists of an elevated heat sink such that when
food is placed in it, it gets cooked well.

Tidal Wave Energy

Introduction to Tidal wave energy: Tidal wave energy a new innovation in renewable
energy, focused on the untapped in marine based energy technology aims to reimagine what is
possible in harnessing the power of the ocean by lowering the cost of deployment of tidal stream
and wave energy technologies via collocation.
Definition of Tidal Wave Energy: Tidal wave energy is the power produced by the waves and
tides. It is a form of hydroelectric power. Special buoys, turbines, and other tidal energy generators
capture the tidal wave energy and convert it into clean, pollution-free electricity.

Tidal Energy
Tidal energy is power produced by the surge of ocean waters during the rise and fall of tides. Tidal
energy is a renewable source of energy. The rise and fall in the sea level due to the actions of the
sun and moon results in the formation of tidal energy. It is generated from a natural source by the
gravitational pull of the moon and sun on our Earth.
Formation of tide: The moon is revolving around the earth its gravitational pull effect tries to pull
the water on the earth that creates the tied on the surface of the ocean.
That means there are two high tide formations on the earth at the same time at opposite directions
of the earth and two low tide formation on both sides of the earth perpendicular to the moon.

Figure 10: Formation of tide

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Now as the sun is the biggest among the whole solar system its own gravitational pull be larger
than the moon and the earth.The sun can do two things here one is that it can increase the
gravitational pull effect of the moon when the earth, moon and sun come in the straight line.And
second is the sun can diminish the moons gravitational pull effect when the earth and the moon at
a right angle to the sun.So when the sun increases the gravitational effect of the moon bigger tide
formation happens in the ocean. These bigger high tides are called Spring Tide.Whereas when the
sun diminishes the moon’s gravitational pull effect it creates low tides which we called neap tides.

What Causes Tidal Energy?

It is the presence of both the sun and the moon that cause the tides. The moon is responsible
for around 2/3 of it only because it is closer to the earth. Their gravitational forces make
tides to go out and go in. There are characterized by a bulge(s) on planet Earth. A bulge on
planet Earth means another object (moon or sun) is pulling the Earth towards it, creating a
high tide. For example, the moon located right above us creates a hide tide.

When the earth rotates, there is a change in the tides. As a result, there are generally two
high tides and two low tides each day. This means it takes 12 hours and 25 minutes for the
high tide to go in and go out. Conversely, it takes 12 hours and 25 minutes for the low tide
to go in and out.
Methods For Generating Tidal Energy:
Tidal energy can be generated by the following methods.

Tidal Stream Generator: The moving water, depending upon its velocity, is used by such kinds
of generators to generate electricity. The places like bridges that can capture the high velocity of
the running water are used for installing the generators.

Tidal Kite: It works on the phenomenon which involves the usage of long dams built from
coastal regions to that of the oceans.

Tidal Barrage: This directly involves the use of the high and the low tides with the help of
recurring potential energy. In this, the water is channeled out via the dams during the high tides
and this potential energy which is stored, later, gets converted into electricity.

Tidal Lagoon: This involves the development of the proper artificial infrastructure in terms of
the circular retaining walls. These walls are installed with the turbines to store the potential
energy.

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Figure 11: How tidal power generators capture energy from the natural ebb and flow of the
oceans

Advantages and Disadvantages of Tidal Energy:

Advantages of Tidal Energy:

o It is a renewable energy resource.

o It is not expensive to operate and maintain compared to other renewable energies.

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 o Low visual impact as the majority part of the tidal turbines submerged in the water.
o Noise pollution is very less as noise generated by the turbines, transfer through the water.
o Unlike wind, we can mostly predict high and low tides in advance.
o It provides protection against flooding and prevents losses.
o It is free and clean.
o Much effective at even low speed also.
o it creates jobs.

Disadvantages of Tidal Energy:

o Not a constant source of energy as it depends on the gravitational effects of the moon and
the sun.
o We must require a proper site, where the tides and tidal currents are consistently strong.
o It required high capital for construction and maintenance costs.
o It requires long underwater cables to transfer power from the submerged turbines to the
grid.
o generate power ten hours a day during the ebb and flow of the tides.
o It might cause damage to the estuary ecosystem and coastal erosion.
o The concern of damage sea-life is there as they get stuck in the barrage or pass through
the tidal turbine blades.

Uses of Tidal Energy:

o Mainly used to generate electricity.

o Used for 100 of years for crushing grains in gain mills.
o We can use it as a storage of energy.
o It acts as protection from high storms.

Wave energy

Wave energy, also known as ocean energy or sea wave energy, is a form of energy harnessed from
the ocean or sea waves. The rigorous vertical motion of surface ocean waves contains a lot of
kinetic energy that is captured by wave energy technologies to do useful tasks.

How does wave energy work?

Wave power is produced by the up and down motion of floating devices placed on the surface of
the ocean. In other words, wind produces waves, and then waves produce energy. As the waves

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travel across the ocean, high-tech devices capture the natural movements of ocean currents and
the flow of swells to generate power.

Wave Energy Generators: Waves are formed because of the wind that blows over the surface
of the water which causes friction. That friction between wind and the surface water make up
and down movement of the water called waves. The wave energy generators use the kinetic force
of waves to produce energy.

Wave Energy Conversion Devices

o Point absorber
o Oscillating water column
o Overtopping wave power device
o Attenuators
o Oscillating wave surge converter
o Submerged pressure differential

Point Absorber: Point absorbers convert energy by absorbing the up and down motion of the
waves which acts on the floating buoys that convert the mechanical motion into electricity. The
oscillatory motion created by floating buoys makes the absorbers to act as a hydraulic pump
which is used to rotate a turbine to generate electricity.

Figure 12: Point absorber

Oscillating Water Column: OWC converts the wave energy into the air pressure. The OWC is
usually constructed near to the rocks or cliffs which are next to the deep-sea bottom. Then only,
we can utilize more wave energy. It consists of a partly submerged hollow chamber which is
fixed directly at the shoreline to capture the wave energy. When the wave enters and exits the
chamber, the water surface oscillate up and down within the chamber that acts as a piston on the
air above the surface of the water. This oscillatory motion compress and decompress the air on

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every cycle. This air pressure is properly channeled to rotate the wind turbine to generate
electricity.

Figure 13: Oscillating Water Column

Overtopping Wave Power Device: This device converts the waves into potential energy by
lifting the water into a reservoir which is installed near the shoreline. When the waves hit the
ramp of the reservoir, it flows over that tapered surface and stored into a raised water
impoundment reservoir. This trapped water creates the potential energy inside the reservoir
which is then extracted by using gravity. So, the water moves down that helps to generate the
electrical energy by using the low-head Kaplan turbine. The turbine is usually fixed at the bottom
of the device.

Figure 14: Overtopping Wave Power Device.

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Attenuators: The attenuator is a floating device which is operated by using the waves that pass
along the length of the device. As the waves move along the device, that makes the attenuator
body to float up and downwards. The connecting joints of the attenuator device flex due to
waves which are used to exert the force to give power to the hydraulic rams at each joint. The
hydraulic ram drives oil which rotates the turbine to generate electricity.

Figure 15: Attenuators

Oscillating Wave Surge Converter: The OWSC extracts energy by using wave movements.
The OWSC comprised a hinged defector that is installed perpendicular to the wave movements.
So, the ocean's wave movement make this defector oscillate like a pendulum that is used to
actuate a hydraulic piston connected to it; These pistons convert the kinetic energy of the
defector into electrical energy.

Figure 16: Oscillating Wave Surge Converter

Submerged Pressure Differential: This device is mounted on the seafloor near to the shore.
The waves motion cause the sea level to rise and fall above the device that induces the pressure
differential on the device. The pressure is used to pump the fluid within the system to generate

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electricity.

Figure 17: Submerged Pressure Differential

Difference between Wave and Tidal energy:

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Tidal wave energy pros and cons:
In order to understand the true components of tidal energy, we need to evaluate both the pros and
cons about tidal wave energy.

Pros of tidal wave energy:

Below are the many advantages of using tidal wave energy.

It is truly a renewable source of energy: One of the significant advantages of tidal wave
energy is that it is renewable. It is no brainer that the oceanic tides and waves used to generate
the tidal wave power occurs naturally. The oceanic tides and waves are as a result of the effects
of the rotation of the earth on its axis, combined with the gravitational force of the sun and the
moon.

Tidal wave energy thus becomes an Infinite source of energy since those effects will always be
there.

It remains environmentally friendly: Tidal power is one of the most eco-friendly sources of
energy since it does not emit any harmful gases like carbon, residues or other greenhouse gases
to the environment unlike other sources of energy like nuclear energy or fossil energy.

The tidal wave energy can be taken directly from the tides and waves and made directly to the
production of electricity that is used to power the generators of the plant.

It is more reliable than other sources of energy: Since the tides, which can be low or high,
occur in certain cycles and times, it is easier to predict their occurrences and plan well before to
get the amount of power required. An interesting fact about tidal wave energy is that tides and
waves are almost always in motion and less interrupted unlike the other sources like solar and
wind.

So, tidal wave energy is a more reliable source of energy since it is certain the tides and waves
will be there for almost the entire year. Thus, this usually results in a higher capacity factor
relative to other renewables.

It is more effective than any other alternative energy: Another advantage of tidal wave
energy is that it’s more effective than other alternative sources of energy since water is denser
than air; it makes it easier to generate the electricity required, even at very low speeds of water.

Calculations reveal that power can be produced even at a speed rate of as little as 1m/s which are
equal to slightly above 3fts/s.

Cost competitive: Since the source of tidal wave energy is not deemed to diminish in any near
future, the power plants producing this kind of energy can sell the electricity at relatively lower
prices

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Massive power potential: These tides and waves have the potential to generate an enormous
amount of tidal energy since the amount of power that comes with these tides are considerable.

Typically, for every meter of wave around the shore, the energy density that comes with it is
around 40KW, and if going deeper into the ocean, the same length of the wave produces around
100KW. Tidal wave energy would have an interesting capacity factor profile.

Offshore wave power: Ocean wave energy plants can be constructed way deep into the ocean
and far from the shore. It helps solve the issues that can arise if these processing plants are set up
near the beach. It also means that there will be more power potential for the plant since when it’s
more in-depth into the sea, the tides can produce much more energy compared to near the land.

Abundant and readily available: One among the many facts about ocean energy is that it is
readily available and in abundance. Many of the big cities and harbors in the world are near the
ocean lines thus can efficiently harness the tidal wave power. Oceans cover the most substantial
part of the earth thus making the wave energy so much available.

Cons about tidal wave energy:

Below are some of the most important disadvantages of tidal wave energy.

Costs: The initial cost of setting up and operating a tidal wave power plant is very high. It makes
the tidal wave power relatively expensive at the moment though it’s expected that this will
significantly drop with time. Tidal wave energy is still in its very early stages of developing and
acceptance globally, and thus it’s hard to predict the exact costs of setting up the plants.

Effects on tourism and high-demand land: While tidal wave energy is environmentally
friendly, tidal wave power plants that are near the shores may cause conflicts with tourism and
also the acceptance by the local community. It, in turn, attracts more restrictions regarding size
and location when constructing a plant along the coastline or near the shores. Maintenance of the
machines used in the tidal wave power production may also be a challenge since they are
underwater making it challenging and expensive.

Effect on marine ecosystem: Although the oceanic wave energy is one of the cleanest kinds of
power, it still has some impact on the creatures living nearby. For example, large machinery has
effects on the natural order of the sea living beings since it disturbs the seafloor and may cause
some of the animals to change their habitats. If chemicals are used in the process of harnessing
the tidal energy, it may spill and cause harm to the environment.

Limited to certain locations: Location is the most notable limitation to getting your energy
from the tidal wave power generating plants since only the cities around the oceans can access
this kind of power. Countries which are landlocked may not also benefit from tidal wave energy.
It makes the oceanic wave energy not the most viable source for everyone.

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