Energy Extraction From Ocean Currents And Waves: Mapping The Most Promising Locations

Concerns about fossil fuel supplies and an ever-increasing demand for energy have prompted the search for alternative power sources. One option is the ocean, a power-dense and renewable source of energy; but its capacity to meet human energy demands is poorly understood. While raw wave energy resources have been investigated at many scales, little is known about where and how much power can be extracted. Even less is known about the potential energy in ocean currents, especially on a global scale. This study assesses where significant amounts of energy in ocean waves and currents are available for human use. Wave energy transport and coastal wave energy flux are calculated with spectral wave data from the NOAA WaveWatch III model. These quantities are mapped, and the distributions are similar to other wave energy assessments. Next, technological or economic variables are used to constrain the raw resource and produce a better estimate of how much power could be harvested. We perform a similar analysis of power available in ocean currents. Results showing promising amounts of extractable wave and current energy may lead to more detailed assessments and greater support for developing, testing, and deploying ocean energy converter technology.