Ocean Energy

[GordMay]

Ocean Energy

In figures released Thursday [1], Ocean Energy Europe [OEE] said 2.2 megawatts of tidal stream capacity was installed in Europe last year, compared to just 260 kilowatts in 2020.
For wave energy, 681 kW was installed, which OEE said [1] was a threefold increase.

Overall, 11.5 MW of tidal stream installations are now in European waters, with the figure for wave energy coming in at 1.4 MW. Investment in the ocean energy sector hit 70 million euros ($76.8 million) last year. OEE, a Brussels-based trade association, said this represented a 50% increase compared to 2020.

Globally, 1.38 MW of wave energy came online in 2021, while 3.12 MW of tidal stream capacity was installed.

While there is excitement about the potential of marine energy, the footprint of tidal stream and wave projects remains very small, compared to other renewables. In 2021 alone, Europe installed 17.4 gigawatts of wind power capacity, according to figures from industry body WindEurope [2].

[1] “Ocean Energy: Key trends and statistics 2021" ~ by OEE [March 2022]
➥ https://www.oceanenergy-europe.eu/wp...s_2021_web.pdf

[2] “Wind energy in Europe: 2021 Statistics and the outlook for 2022-2026" ~ by WindEurope [24 February 2022]
➥ https://windeurope.org/intelligence-...for-2022-2026/

[GordMay]

Tidal Energy News:

Last July, a tidal turbine weighing 680 metric tons started grid-connected power generation at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, an archipelago located north of mainland Scotland. [1]

A few months later, in Oct. 2021, plans for a £1.7 billion (around $2.23 billion) project in the U.K. incorporating technologies including underwater turbines were announced. [2]

Then, last week, it was announced that an independent commission would revisit the possibility of using the Severn Estuary, a large body of water between England and Wales, to harness tidal energy. [3]

[1] “The ‘world’s most powerful tidal turbine’ starts to export power to the grid “
➥ https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/28/worl...&doc=107028930

[2] “$2.35 billion tidal lagoon project with underwater turbines planned for UK”
➥ https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/26/2poi...&doc=107028930

[3] “Britain revisits huge tidal energy plan as Ukraine crisis continues”
➥ https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/11/seve...&doc=107028930

[sailorboy1]

cut to the chase

how many houses does that power?

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

cut to the chase
how many houses does that power?

The 2 megawatt ‘ O2' turbine, off Orkney, has the capacity to meet the annual electricity demand of around 2,000 UK homes.

[Ericson38]

I worked on several closed cycle OTEC proposals about 8 years ago (South China Sea). Eventually we backed out as we leaned eventually that they were going to use these power sources to power their artificial islands for increased military presence in the area. Best contractors to use for the floating platforms were those such as Brown and Root in the Houston area. In Houston there were many Chinese companies looking for US assistance in oil rig platform design and construction, so we took a back seat in some cases, although we were a US firm. Working fluid was ammonia.

[Bill Seal]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

cut to the chase

how many houses does that power?

Put another way, the average container train leaving LA harbor is pulled by 3 or 4 locos, combined power of about 10 megawats

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by Bill Seal

Put another way, the average container train leaving LA harbor is pulled by 3 or 4 locos, combined power of about 10 megawats

Is that 10MW at the prime mover or 10MW delivered to the wheels?

[BMD21]

Since we have solar panels and feed the grid as well as using the grid, I keep track of the monthly and years power uses for the last 10 years. Basically I read the solar panel inverter output monthly add in the SDG&E bill and total it over the years. We "make up" annually so I have the yearly totals. And we have air conditioning but usually we're on the boat in the summer. And remember this is Southern California, doesn't freeze in the winter, but get over 100 in summer.


OK,here are the numbers. When we're at home, with air, the total is 5.5 mWatts-hrs. When we're on the boat, small air, total is 4.5 mWatts-hrs. Note mWatt-hrs is energy, which is the only true way of measuring electric use in a year.



So, if 2.2 mWatts has been installed, one can assume a 50% duty cycle (wind blows half the time), over a year (365 days) that 2.2 mWatts translates to 2 bWatts/year. So (approx) 350 houses can be supplied with electricty, in So Cal.


Boris

[Ericson38]

Originally Posted by GordMay

The 2 megawatt ‘ O2' turbine, off Orkney, has the capacity to meet the annual electricity demand of around 2,000 UK homes.

Is that nameplate, or actual realized, taking into account tide cycles and energy storage equipment (batteries) to normalize tidal energy spikes (cycles) with domestic demand patterns ?

[LakeSuperior]

Most interesting would be the cost to generate a kW-hr delivered to the grid by the tidal unit (not counting the design and development costs.)

I am thinking unit manufacture cost, in sea water installation, all maintenance, distribution cost to get the power to the grid, cost to install the transmission lines, cost to remove at end of lifecycle, etc., etc., etc.

[StuM]

> how many houses does that power?

Note that all the so called "green technologies" quote "installed capacity", very rarely do they state average or actual generation.

It's hard to get figures, but here's one I found:
A tidal barrage power station at La Rance in France has been operating since the 1960s, with 240 MW of capacity; its typical output is 0.5 terawatt-hour per year.

0.5 TWh = 500 000MWh per year.
That's an average of 57MW (500 000/365/24)

So it has an efficiency of 57/240 = 23.75%
Which is pretty similar to solar and wind efficiencies

On that bases 2.2MW installed capacity should average 500kW or 12 000kWh per day.

"According to Ofgem, the average household in the UK has 2.4 people living in it, and uses 8 kWh of electricity and 33 kWh of gas respectively, per day."

So we are talking about 12 000/8 = 1 500 homes at present.

However with "NetZero", they are talking about only using "clean" electricity for all household needs and no gas. In which case, it would be 41kWh per day, so only about 290 homes!

[Baronkrak]

History

https://www.revolution-energetique.c...s-quel-avenir/

https://www.geographie.ens.fr/-les-c...la-rance-.html

https://www.edf.fr/usine-maremotrice-rance/presentation

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Baronkrak

History
https://www.revolution-energetique.c...s-quel-avenir/
https://www.geographie.ens.fr/-les-c...la-rance-.html
https://www.edf.fr/usine-maremotrice-rance/presentation

Do those sites have English versions?

[GordMay]

Taiwan's 'biggest offshore wind farm' generates its first power
“Changhua 1 & 2a” will have a capacity of approximately 900 megawatts, and will use 111 Siemens Gamesa [8.0-167 DD] turbines.
The facility will eventually generate enough power to meet the needs of 1 million households, in Taiwan.
More ➥ https://orsted.com/en/media/newsroom...20220421515811
And ➥ https://orsted.com/en/media/newsroom...17303358891619