1 / 22

Ocean Energy

Ocean Energy. Harnessing the Power of Waves and Tides. What is Ocean Energy?. Using Hydrokinetic Technology to harness energy from the movement of water Waves , tides, and ocean currents Does not require impoundment (dams) or diversion Many different concepts and models

robin-hooper
Download Presentation

Ocean Energy

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Ocean Energy Harnessing the Power of Waves and Tides

  2. What is Ocean Energy? • Using Hydrokinetic Technology to harness energy from the movement of water • Waves, tides, and ocean currents • Does not require impoundment (dams) or diversion • Many different concepts and models • Few have made it to installation

  3. Wave Energy Two or more independent parts of the device move relative to each other. At least one part is displaced by the waves and reacts with the other device. Many forms: oscillating water columns (OWC), point-absorbers, attenuators, and overtopping devices. OPT’s PowerBuoy device In Hawaii

  4. The Pelamis Sea-Snake

  5. The Mechanics

  6. Tidal Energy Deployed in a tides or current Captures energy from the flow of water across or through the device to power a generator without impounding or diverting the flow of the water Similar to the way wind energy conversion devices work. SeaGen Tidal Turbine Northern Ireland Constructed in 2008

  7. OpenHydro Tidal Turbine

  8. OpenHydro In Action

  9. Benefits Zero GHG Emissions Little Aesthetic Disruption Minimal Impact on Marine Life Predictable, Constant Low long-term costs

  10. Tax Incentives and Government Investment • American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 • Marine Energy Promotion Act of 2009: DOE Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program  • NOAA Marine and Spatial Planning • Federal and State Subsidies

  11. Costs and Hurdles • Very New Technology • Investors are weary of new technology • At the stage that wind power was in the 1980s • Not currently competitive with traditional energy sources • High Capital Costs • Limited knowledge and research about Environmental Impact • Licensing Hurdles

  12. U.S. Regulatory Process: Jurisdiction • Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (previously MMS) – Federal Leases • FERC – Licenses for ALL hydrokinetic projects • States - Submerged Lands Act of 1953

  13. U.S. Regulatory Process: Licensing • Preliminary Permit (a hold) • Traditional License • Conditioned License • Pilot/Prototype Permit • Verdant Power: 2005 FERC Order ¶ 61,143

  14. Problems with the Regulatory Process • Too Many Agencies Involved • State v. federal • Environmental agencies • Indian Tribes • The Response: Coordination • Example: California and FERC MOU

  15. A Tale of Two Technologies: Wave Energy Development in the United States

  16. Finavera Renewable Technology: Makah Bay Offshore Wave Project The ONLY wave energy project with a full FERC permit AQUABuoy Technology: As the waves rise and fall, water is pumped through a hose into one of the buoys, powering a small turbine inside.

  17. Makah Bay Offshore Wave Project Tribal Historical Preservation Office (THPO) Makah Indian Nation WA Department of Ecology WA Archeological and Historical Perspective WA Department of Natural Resources National Marine Fisheries Service Required Permits or Consent from: • FERC • U.S. Coast Guard • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs • NOAA • WA Department of Fish and Wildlife • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers • Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

  18. Makah Bay Offshore Wave Project • Environmental Studies and Projects Completed Prior to Licensing: • Oceanographic study • Sedimentation and Current Flow study • Electromagnetic Field Literature Review • Marine Photography • National Environmental Policy Act  and State Environmental Policy Act  Compliance • NOAA coordination with state and federal agencies • Acoustic output study • Eel Grass Analysis • Gray Whale/marine mammal migration route analysis

  19. Makah Bay Offshore Wave Project “Permitting agencies were [un]familiar with our technology, so we had to create a permitting process as we went along.” - Alla Weinstein, AquaEnergy Group The Project was abandoned in 2009, citing lack of capital and unfavorable financial climate

  20. Ocean Power Technologies: Power Buoy system • The PowerBuoy A piston-like structure moves up and down are the waves rise and fall. The movement produces electricity and is sent to shore by underwater cable.

  21. PowerBuoy Technology • Environmental assessment for Pilot Permit met 14 different legal requirements, including: • NEPA, the Coastal Zone Management Act, laws protecting marine mammals, migratory birds, fish and wildlife, Native American graves, and coral reefs • Completed first grid connection in September 2010 in Hawaii • Plans to expand to Oregon and Spain, including large-scale operations

  22. The Future of Ocean Energy • The United States is behind Europe in development • But we are catching up! • Need for investment and subsidies in the short term • Need for coordination between developers • European Marine Energy Centre Model

More Related