BUS604: Innovation and Sustainability

Ocean wave energy is the production of energy from ocean waves. In deep water, where the water depth is larger than half the wavelength, the power available in waves is given by

$P= \dfrac{ρg^2}{64 \pi} H^2_{m0} T_e$

with $P$ the wave energy flux per unit of wave-crest length, $H_{m0}$ the significant wave height, $T_e$ the wave energy period, $ρ$ the water density and $g$ the acceleration by gravity.

There are many different concepts for generating energy from ocean waves, such as floating buoys reacting against the sea bed, floating buoys reacting against each other, oscillating water columns, and overtopping devices. The technical challenges in this field are huge: the mechanical forces of waves during storms are extremely demanding, and the salty and humid environment is very aggressive to the (electrical) components. Ocean wave energy is still in a very early phase of development and is barely exploited commercially. However, the potential is very large. The variations in output power of this renewable energy source are larger than for other forms of renewable energy because of the irregularity of the waves.