Wave Power The Renewable Future for the UK Nicola Thomas 24 th February 2005.

Wave Power Wave Power

The Renewable The Renewable Future for the UKFuture for the UK

Nicola ThomasNicola Thomas

2424thth February 2005 February 2005

Wave Power Wave Power

• Waves are created by interaction Waves are created by interaction with wind on the surface of the with wind on the surface of the water. water.

• The wind blows across the Atlantic The wind blows across the Atlantic Ocean all the way from America.Ocean all the way from America.

• This large distance means the UK has This large distance means the UK has one of the highest wave power levels one of the highest wave power levels in the world.in the world.

European Wave Resource Chart

The chart shows annual average wave power in kilowatts per metre of crest width for various European sites. (Ocean Power

Delivery Limited, 2005)

Wave Power - The ResourceWave Power - The Resource

Wave Power – The Potential Wave Power – The Potential

• There is sufficient energy breaking on the There is sufficient energy breaking on the UK shoreline to power the country three UK shoreline to power the country three times over.times over.

• However, it is not practical to recover all However, it is not practical to recover all the energy.the energy.

• The economically recoverable resource The economically recoverable resource for the UK has been estimated to be 87 for the UK has been estimated to be 87 TWh/yTWh/y-1-1..

Wave Power – The Wave Power – The Technology Technology

There are two major areas of wave There are two major areas of wave power:power:

• Shore-line Shore-line • OffshoreOffshore

The wave industry has many technologies The wave industry has many technologies striving for success, very few will, striving for success, very few will,

however, eventually achieve however, eventually achieve commercialisation. commercialisation.

Wave Power – The Devices Wave Power – The Devices

• The Limpet - Wavegen The Limpet - Wavegen (Shoreline)(Shoreline)

• The Pelamis - OPD (Offshore)The Pelamis - OPD (Offshore)

There are two current potential commercial

technologies. One is shoreline and the

other is offshore.

Wave Power – The Wave Power – The Technology Technology

• Limpet has a generating capacity of 500 kW and currently Limpet has a generating capacity of 500 kW and currently powers 300 homes in Islay. powers 300 homes in Islay.

• Limpet uses the Oscillating Water Column Technology. This Limpet uses the Oscillating Water Column Technology. This relies on the motion of the waves compressing and sucking relies on the motion of the waves compressing and sucking air through a turbine which powers a generator. air through a turbine which powers a generator.

• Pelamis has a generating capacity of 750 kWPelamis has a generating capacity of 750 kW• The Pelamis is a semi-submerged structure. Wave-induced The Pelamis is a semi-submerged structure. Wave-induced

motion of hinged joints is resisted by hydraulic rams. This motion of hinged joints is resisted by hydraulic rams. This pumps oil through hydraulic motors which drive electrical pumps oil through hydraulic motors which drive electrical generators giving electricity.generators giving electricity.

Wave Power – The PredictionsWave Power – The PredictionsOFFSHORE OFFSHORE

The Pelamis will not be ready to go The Pelamis will not be ready to go commercial for another commercial for another 55 years years from present.from present.

Due to this the Due to this the prediction for offshore is prediction for offshore is

0 PJ0 PJ

20102010

Wave Power – The PredictionsWave Power – The PredictionsOFFSHOREOFFSHORE• Due to scale of Due to scale of

Pelamis I predict Pelamis I predict there will be a there will be a yearly build rate of yearly build rate of 200 devices each 200 devices each taking 3 months to taking 3 months to build. build.

• Load factor will be Load factor will be less than wind ~ 0.2less than wind ~ 0.2

• This is generation in This is generation in 5 years:-5 years:-

200 x 750 = 150 000 200 x 750 = 150 000 kWkW

150 000 x 0.2 x 8736150 000 x 0.2 x 8736= 262 080 000 kWh x = 262 080 000 kWh x

55= 1 310 400 000 / = 1 310 400 000 /

10001000= 1 310 400 MWh/y-1= 1 310 400 MWh/y-1

Or Or = = 4.72 PJ4.72 PJ201201

55

Wave Power – The PredictionsWave Power – The PredictionsOFFSHOREOFFSHORE

I predict that in 5 I predict that in 5 years from the years from the initial phase of initial phase of commercialisation commercialisation the amount of the amount of energy generated energy generated will double due to will double due to and increase in the and increase in the number of wave number of wave farms farms

2000 devices 2000 devices deployeddeployed

1 310 400 + 1 310 1 310 400 + 1 310 400400

= = 2 620 8002 620 800 MWh/y MWh/y-1-1

OrOr

= = 9.43 PJ9.43 PJ20202020

Wave Power – The PredictionsWave Power – The PredictionsOFFSHOREOFFSHORE

Again I believe that in Again I believe that in 2025 and 2030 the 2025 and 2030 the industry will remain industry will remain at a constant at a constant increase as although increase as although manufacture may manufacture may improve the number improve the number of suitable locations of suitable locations may decrease due to may decrease due to adverse effects on adverse effects on shipping and other shipping and other activities.activities.

3000 devices deployed3000 devices deployed

1 310 400 x 3 1 310 400 x 3 = = 3 931 2003 931 200 MWh/y MWh/y-1-1

OrOr= = 14.15 PJ14.15 PJ

4000 devices deployed 4000 devices deployed

1 310 400 x 41 310 400 x 4= = 5 241 600 5 241 600

OrOr= = 18.87 PJ18.87 PJ

2025 & 2025 & 20302030

Wave Power – The PredictionsWave Power – The PredictionsOFFSHOREOFFSHORE

The energy consumption The energy consumption for the UK is for the UK is 10500 PJ10500 PJ

per year. per year.

With Offshore Wave With Offshore Wave power producing power producing

18.87 PJ18.87 PJ

It would therefore be able to It would therefore be able to contributecontribute 0.17%0.17%

of the UK's needs.of the UK's needs.

Energy Generation by Offshore Wave

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Year

Gen

erat

ion

in

PJ

Wave Power – The PredictionsWave Power – The PredictionsSHORELINESHORELINE

These devices again are unlikely to be These devices again are unlikely to be fully commercial until after 2010 fully commercial until after 2010

The prediction is The prediction is 0MW0MW..

20102010

Wave Power – The PredictionsWave Power – The PredictionsSHORELINESHORELINE

The major constraint for The major constraint for this type of shore based this type of shore based technology is location. technology is location.

These devices can only be These devices can only be built into hard rock. The built into hard rock. The South and the East South and the East coastlines, excluding coastlines, excluding Cornwall, are therefore not Cornwall, are therefore not ideal. ideal.

Pembrokeshire and West Pembrokeshire and West Scotland are good Scotland are good locationslocations. .

~10% of coastline is probably optimal. ~10% of coastline is probably optimal.

This is equal to This is equal to 1649 devices1649 devices

Scottish coastline length: Scottish coastline length: 16,491 km 16,491 km

Spacing of devices 1 deviceSpacing of devices 1 device = 1 = 1 km km Build scale of around 30 per Build scale of around 30 per

year year This would take up 30 km/yThis would take up 30 km/y-1-1

A maximum number A maximum number of devices is 16, 491. of devices is 16, 491.

30 devices every year for 20 years = 600 devices by 2030

Wave Power – The PredictionsWave Power – The PredictionsSHORELINESHORELINE• By 2030 the Onshore By 2030 the Onshore

wave industry will be wave industry will be generating 0.0001456 PJgenerating 0.0001456 PJ

• As discussed earlier the As discussed earlier the major limiting factor for major limiting factor for this technology is space. this technology is space.

• Large opposition would Large opposition would be created if it was be created if it was proposed to put wave proposed to put wave plants every 100 m plants every 100 m along the coast. along the coast.

• This wave plant also has This wave plant also has a lower load factor than a lower load factor than wind.wind.

600 x 500 600 x 500 =300000kW/1000 =300000kW/1000

=300 MW=300 MW

300 x 0.2 x 8736 300 x 0.2 x 8736 = 524160 MWh/y= 524160 MWh/y-1-1

1.89 PJ1.89 PJ

This works out at This works out at 0.0179%0.0179%

of the UK’s demandof the UK’s demand

20320300

Wave Power – The PredictionsWave Power – The PredictionsTogetherTogether

Together Offshore wave and onshore Together Offshore wave and onshore wave can produce 20.76 PJ by 2030.wave can produce 20.76 PJ by 2030.

This works out at This works out at

0.2%0.2% of the UK’s energy demand of the UK’s energy demand

20302030

Wave Power - Major Wave Power - Major RestrictionsRestrictions• Costs: Costs:

Competition with lower cost technologies.Competition with lower cost technologies.• Technology Technology

Force of the sea (Osprey)Force of the sea (Osprey)

TransmissionTransmission• Fewer potential sitesFewer potential sites• Higher installation costsHigher installation costs

Individual projects (economies of scale)Individual projects (economies of scale)

Wave Power Wave Power

The Renewable The Renewable Future for the UKFuture for the UK

THE END