Ocean wave energy potential and extraction technologies

Abstract

To cope with the energy crisis, many countries are struggling to develop the new and renewable energy resources. Wave and wave current energy are promising energy resources because they can be developed at a very large scale. In order to develop techniques for harnessing wave energy, field measurements have been performed and numerical modeling as well as estimation of potential energy are under progress in Kuala Terengganu coastline. The main wave characteristics are commonly given in terms wave height, period, direction of propagation and power. The power in wave can be expressed by the formula P = (ρg2 /64π)H2sT, kW per meter of crest length. However, it is rarely possible to measure data in a proposed sea area over a long period of time, and to use the data in setting the environmental condition parameters within which such devices will be expected to function. As a result, short-term data and water-related data supplied by weather stations concerning the proposed sea area are often used when designing WEC devices. This paper aims to describe the importance of data and collection methods, parameters to estimate the potential wave energy and explain wave energy conversion methods.