INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY | IMPLEMENTING AGREEMENT ON OCEAN ENERGY SYSTEMS

OCEAN ENERGY
OPPORTUNITY, PRESENT STATUS AND CHALLENGES
GLOBAL RESOURCE
Available global Ocean Energy resource is in the same order of magnitude
of the present electricity production worldwide.
Five basic forms for Ocean Energy can be harvested to generate electricity and fresh water by various means.

FORM OF OCEAN ENERGY ESTIMATED GLOBAL RESOURCES* PRESENT GLOBAL ELECTRICITY

(TWH/YEAR) PRODUCTION (TWH/YEAR)+

Tides 300+
Waves 80 000
Tidal (Marine) Current 800+ 17 400
Thermal Gradient 10 000
Salinity Gradient 2 000
*Policy Report, IEA-OES, 2006 +IEA Statistics for 2004

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT STATUS BARRIERS & CHALLENGES

Technologies for harnessing energy from tides by building barrage across estuary are well Insufficient number of governments having national research &
developed, but this type of conversion process could have significant impact on local ecosystem. innovation, market deployment, and market-based energy policies that
are open to ocean energy.
Significant number of technologies for harnessing energy from ocean waves & tidal current
are being developed worldwide. Some of these technologies are at or near full-scale development Lack of experience from a larger number of full-scale sea-trials on
and undergoing sea trials. performance & environmental impacts.

Technology for harnessing ocean thermal energy using Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Lack of streamlining of licensing & permitting process for projects.
(OTEC) Systems is at advanced stage of R&D.
Absence of internationally recognized performance assessment
Technology for harnessing Salinity Power is at early stage of development. guidelines and standards.

Electrical grid connection and capacity constraint challenges.

DISTRIBUTION OF CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES BEING DEVELOPED WORLDWIDE

Ocean Wave Tidal Current OTEC Salinity Gradient

30 STRATEGIC ACTIONS OF THE IEA-OES

OCEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN DEVELOPMENT

Encourage development of networks of researchers and technology developers.

25
Provide objective authoritative information to stakeholders and policymakers.
20
Support collaboration in addressing barriers and opportunities for development
15 and deployment of OES.

Promote policies and procedures consistent with sustainable development.

10
Promote harmonisation of terminologies, methodologies, procedures, and
5 development of guidelines & standards.

0
MISSION OF THE IEA-OES
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Korea
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norwway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
UK
USA
Brazil
China
India
Mexico
South Africa
Fineland

To facilitate and coordinate ocean energy research, development and

demonstration through international cooperation and information exchange,
leading to the deployment and commercialization of sustainable, efficient,
reliable, cost-competitive and environmentally sound ocean energy technologies.

(Ref: Policy Report, IEA-OES, 2006)

EXAMPLES OF SELECTIVE CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES

& DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS WORLD-WIDE
WAVE ENERGY TIDAL CURRENT ENERGY SALINITY GRADIENT

Pelamis Wave Dragon The Blue Concept Kinetic Hydro Power Experimental set-up for membrane
development for harnessing salinity
Floating, articulated device Slack-moored overtopping Sea testing in Norwegian Strait Systems (KHPS) gradiente energy Osmotic Power
Assembling of the first offshore wave Sea testing in Nissum Bredning, of Kvalsundet, Norway Turbine tested in East River, USA
farm off Northern Portugal Denmark (Hammerfest Strom AS, Norway) (Statkraft SF, Norway)
(Verdant Power, USA)
(Ocean Power Delivery, UK) (Wave Dragon ApS, Denmark)

THERMAL GRADIENT

Limpet OE Buoy Seaflow Submerged Ducted Rim Demonstration of 1 MW OTEC Device

Shore-based OWC plant Floating OWC system Sea testing off Lynmouth, Devon, UK Sea testing at Race Rocks, BC, Canada Thermo-dynamic Rankine cycle
in Islay, Scotland Sea testing in Galway Bay Test (Marine Current Turbines Ldt, UK) (Clean Current Power Systems (Saga University, Japan)
(Wavegen, UK) Site, Ireland Incorporated, Canada)
(Ocean Energy Ltd, Ireland)

AWS PowerBuoy Enermar system Open-Centre Turbine Experimental 30 kW OTEC system

Submerged device Free-floating point absorber Sea testing in the Strait Installation in Orkney, Scotland (Saga University, Japan)
Sea testing off Northern Portugal Sea testing in Hawaii of Messina, Italy (OpenHydro, Ireland)
(AWS II BV, Netherlands) (Ocean Power Technologies, USA) (Ponte di Archimede, Italy)

www.iea-oceans.org