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What is Ocean Energy? PDF Print E-mail

With the oceans covering over 70% of the earth’s surface, they are the world’s largest collector and retainer of the sun’s vast energy – and the largest powerhouse in the world.

Jacques Cousteau said it was equivalent to 16,000 nuclear plants.

This energy is continually renewed and is available 24/7.

Just a small portion of the energy conveniently stored in the oceans could power the world.

So how can we utilize this source of abundant energy?

For over 60 years, several forms of tapping energy from the ocean have been researched and implemented, and now with fossil fuels running out and becoming increasingly expensive, they are more than competitive in costs – and the ‘fuel’ from the ocean is both free and clean.

NOTE: This information is provided with thanks to Ann Marie Harmony and the POEMS (Practical Ocean Management Systems) website which was incorporated into this website in October, 2004.

 

Learn about the 5 types of renewable ocean energy:

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OTEC Energy

OTEC energy is based on the temperature differences between surface water, which is heated by the sun, and deep water, which stays very cold. OTEC uses the surface water to make steam and then pass the steam through a turbine generator to make electricity.

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Ocean Current Energy

Oceanic surface currents are an untapped source of energy. Because of their link to winds and surface heating processes, the ocean currents are considered as indirect sources of solar energy.

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What is Ocean Energy?

With the oceans covering over 70% of the earth’s surface, they are the world’s largest collectors of the sun’s vast energy – and the largest powerhouse in the world. Just a small portion of the energy conveniently stored in the oceans could power the world.

More...
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Offshore Wind Energy

Wind energy is an indirect form of solar energy. While some of the sun's energy is absorbed directly by the air, most of the energy in the wind is first absorbed by the surface of the earth and then transferred to the air by convection.

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Wave Energy

Waves get their energy from the wind. Wind comes from solar energy. Waves gather, store, and transmit this energy thousands of miles with little loss. As long as the sun shines, wave energy will never be depleted.

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Tidal Energy

Tidal power is non-polluting, reliable and predictable. Undersea tidal turbines, like wind turbines but driven by the sea,  and a variety of machines harnessing undersea currents are under development.

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