What is wave energy?
There is a tremendous amount of kinetic energy in ocean waves, and this energy may be an important new source of renewable energy. Waves get their energy from the wind. Wind comes from solar energy. Waves gather, store, and transmit this energy thousands of miles with little loss. As long as the sun shines, wave energy will never be depleted. It varies in intensity, but it is available twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
In fact, waves contain the highest energy density of any renewable resource, with over 1000 times the energy density of wind. This means that a significant amount of energy can be captured and converted to useful purposes, such as the generation of electricity, in a relatively small project area.
The never-ending movement of the ocean and the changing heights and speed of the swells provide an irregular and oscillating low-frequency energy source. Wave Energy Conversion devices (WECs) can capture this energy to produce electricity, converting it to a 60-Hertz frequency, which can then be added to the electric utility grid.
What is the current status of the wave energy industry?
Wave power technology is in the pre-commercial stage, with over one dozen companies worldwide working to develop commercially viable WECs. At this time there are no widely accepted industry standards, nor clearly superior WEC designs, but numerous demonstration projects are proposed or underway.
Partial list of WEC manufacturers:
Visit the EMEC Wave Developers webpage for a comprehensive list.
What is the wave energy potential for California?
With roughly 840 miles of coastline, California boasts an impressive wave resource. Wave power can make a significant contribution to California’s renewable energy goals if the technology proves to be economically and environmentally feasible. Initial studies suggest that California’s wave power potential may exceed 5000 MW, and could play an important role in helping the state to meet its Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and AB32 Greenhouse Gas Reduction goals.
What is the potential for Humboldt County?
The Background Technical Report prepared for RCEA by the Schatz Energy Resource Center as part of the Draft Energy Element for the Humboldt County 2025 General Plan Update suggests that primary local wave energy sites include the Humboldt County coastline north of Cape Mendocino (a 72 mile stretch), which has the potential to produce as much as 3910 MW of electricity. (To put this in perspective, the current peak load for Humboldt County is about 160 MW.)
Related links
- PG&E WaveConnect Pilot Project: PG&E is conducting a pilot study off the Humboldt County bay to provide a test site for Wave Energy Converter devices (WECs). More information is available on the RCEA WaveConnect wepage, and on the PG&E Humboldt WaveConnect Pilot Project webpage.
- The European Marine Energy Centre Ltd: This facility in the UK offers device testing and certification, assistance for other testing centers, and R&D support.
- Wave Hub: Wave Hub is a UK offshore facility to demonstrate arrays of WECs. Site installation is expected over the summer of 2010, and devices are being invited for installation from 2011 onwards.
