Wave Power

Team 2
Jordan Davidson
Shaun Dalziel
Christopher Pegg
Sanaa Dawod
Tim Cruickshank

4 November 2013

School of Engineering
1
Robert Gordon University
Wave Power
Contents
1. What is Wave Power?

2. Current Trends and Issues

3. Advantages of Adopting the Technology

4. Disadvantages of Adopting the Technology

5. Conclusions 2
 What is Wave Power?
‘…Electricity generated from the movement of wave
and tidal flows.’

(Department of Energy & Climate Change, 2013)

3
 What is Wave Power?
• How It Works?
1. Wave Capture Chamber is set
into a rock face.
2. Tidal power forces water into
the Chamber.
3. An oscillating water column
then compresses and
decompresses the air.
4. This alternating air pressure
drives a turbine – generating
power. Source: BBC News (2000) 4
 What is Wave Power?
• Motivation?
• Wave energy has a high theoretical conversion
potential.
• Significant in areas with long oceanic coastlines.

(Brooke, 2003)

5
 What is Wave Power?
• Motivation?
• Potential for 20% of the UK’s current electricity
requirements to be met.

(Department of Energy & Climate Change, 2013)

6
 What is Wave Power?
• Origins
• First recorded patent is dated at the turn of the 19th century.

• 340 patents filed in the UK between 1855 and 1973.

(Clément et al, 2002)

7
 What is Wave Power?
• Origins

• Modern pursuits derive motivation from Naval Commander

Yoshio Masuda – the ‘father’ of wave energy.

• Used wave energy to power navigation lights.

(Falcão, 2009)
8
 What is Wave Power?
• Origins

• 1973 Oil Crisis sparked further interest.

• Professor Salter of Edinburgh University developed ‘Salter’s

Duck’ – capable of stopping 90% of wave motion and
converting it into electricity.

9
What is Wave Power?

Source: technologystudent.com (2009) 10

 What is Wave Power?
• Origins

• The modern understanding of anthropomorphic global

warming drives research in sustainable energy.

• The UK is at the forefront of wave power technologies.

(Department of Energy & Climate Change, 2013)

11
 Current Trends and Issues
• Wave Power in the UK
• UK population focused on Global warming
• Lots of work put towards Wave Energy.
• Large coastal lines.
• Strong Winds = Strong Waves.
• Bearable Conditions i.e. able to work.
• ‘UK has more wave energy systems installed than
the rest of the world combined.’
(RenewableUK, 2013) 12
 Current Trends and Issues
• Wave Power Scotland
• Green 2020.
• £1.5bn Spent on renewables already.
• Government backs saltire prize of £10m.
• Edinburgh-based Company, Pelamis, has 6
working machines which power 500 homes
each.
13
14
 Current Trends and Issues
• Is the Future Green?
• Unfortunately, the Scottish governments, plans
are for from what was anticipated.
• Have to double rate at which they are at already.
• Wave power still not generating enough energy,
despite high costs
• Need more time to develop technologies.
15
 Advantages

• Reasons for Adopting the Technology

• It’s renewable – Useful in today’s society where energy is in high

demand

• It’s environmentally friendly – Doesn’t produce carbon dioxide

• Valuable land is not used – Land for growing crops is conserved

• Widely available – Can be used in any large body of water

• Less dependency on fossil fuels – Replacement as fossil fuels are

finite
Source: reneweconomy (2013)
 Disadvantages
• High Costs
• Lifespan of wave energy plant uncertain
• Many parts require regular maintenance
• Best wave technology in UK 7.5 cents per kWh, wind
energy 4.5 per kWh, coal burning power plants 2.6kWh (
www.oceanenergycouncil.com, 2013)

18
• Few Implemented
• Relatively few commercial installations compared to other
technologies
• Additional difficulties to arise

• Device Breakdown
• “Engineers and designers have been repeatedly discouraged in
their attempts to capture wave energy because the occasionally
unleashed fury of the sea destroys stations”
(Charlier, 2009)

19
• Marine Life Affected
• Sea life possibly harmed, habitats disrupted
• Sufficient research not carried out yet

• Reduced Sea Usage

• Shipping channels
• Fishing and recreational areas

• Noise
• Movement of attenuators or point absorbers could produce a
loud, constant noise
20
 Conclusion
• Is wave power a valid option/alternative?

• Is it worth the time, money and energy required?

• Does it present a better option than other renewable resources?

• Should we bother?
 Conclusion
• Recap of Pros vs Cons
Pros Cons

• Renewable • Energy gathered is expensive

• Environmentally friendly • Regular maintenance

• Sea is used over land • Tech not very advanced
• Sea is unpredictable
• Widely available • Large machines will have unknown
• Less dependency on fossil fuels effect on shipping and wildlife
 Conclusion
• Perspective
• To present a valid conclusion it is vital to understand whose perspective we are telling it
from.

• Scotland, Great Britain, The human race?

• Each presents its own problems and therefore its own solution.

•
 Conclusion
• The World
• Looking at humans as a whole, not separated by countries etc, is
wave power worth the time and money?

• As a race we should be looking at any and all renewables.

• The more work applied the more efficient and powerful the
machines will undoubtedly become.
 Conclusion
• Great Britain
• National responsibility?

• As previously stated with the current technology 20% of Britain’s electrical

demand can be supplied. That is only 1 in 5.

• Current technology is inefficient in capturing power from waves.

Considering 2,700 GW of power is the average a wave produces and we can
only capture 500 GW.

• Money – Energy % very poor.

 Conclusion
• Scotland
• Majority of UK’s wave machines are based in Scotland

• Scotland is in a very strong renewable position considering the years of work,

£1.5bn spent and that 35% of energy used in 2011 was renewable.

• £4m wave farm announced on February 20th, 2007 as part of a £13m package
to develop marine power.
 References
Brooke, J., 2003. Wave Energy Conversion. Oxford: Elsevier Science.

Charlier, R. H., 2009. Ocean Energy: Tide and Tidal Power. USA: Springer.

Clémentb, A., McCullenc, B., Falcãod, A., Fiorentinoe, A., Gardnerf, F.,
Hammarlundg, K., Lemonisa, G. 2002. Wave energy in Europe: current
status and perspectives. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 6 (5),
pp.405-431.

Department of Energy & Climate Change. 2013. Wave and tidal energy: part
of the UK's energy mix. [online] United Kingdom: DECC Available:
https://www.gov.uk/wave-and-tidal-energy-part-of-the-uks-energy-mix.
[Accessed 3 November 2013]

Falcão, A. F. de O., 2009. Wave energy utilization: A review of the

technologies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 14 (3), pp.899-
918.
Ocean Energy Council. 2013. Wave Power FAQ. [Online] United Kingdom:
oceanenergycouncil Available:
http://www.oceanenergycouncil.com/index.php/Wave-Energy/Wave-
Energy.html. [Accessed 3 November 2013]
Parkinson. G., 2013, In: reneweconomy, 2013, Graph of the day: Can wave
energy turbines ever make money? [Online] Sydney: reneweconomy.
Available from
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/graph-of-the-day-can-wave-energy-tur
bines-ever-make-money-21873
[Accessed 1 November 2013]

RenewableUK, 2013. Wave and Tidal energy. [online]. United Kingdom.

RenewableUK. Available from: