This paper presents an overview of ocean energy technology as a source of renewable energy for U.S. Federal sites. It investigates ocean energy resources and new technologies under development to capture that energy. These technologies span:* Wave energy* Tidal energy* Marine current energy* Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)A brief history of the technologies is presented, as well as each technology's commercial market development status. Benefits and barriers to research and development are also examined along with various devices currently being validated in the field. Significant growth has occurred in the number of devices developed for ocean energy conversion since 2003. Multiple countries are now becoming involved in technology research and development. As many of these technologies near commercial deployment, some governments are proposing market support policies to reduce the current cost gap and help accelerate the rate of commercialization.Ocean energy resources are significant around the United States. New energy conversion devices could help alleviate U.S. dependency on foreign oil while reducing Federal Government utility costs. Federal sites should take this opportunity to consider ocean energy development to generate renewable energy and help meet Federal mandates, such as the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007). In general, Federal research and development funding for ocean energy technologies is increasing. There are several projects being sponsored by the Navy and other Federal entities. Support from national laboratories in testing new devices may help greatly in demonstrating design concepts and reliability of new devices. As long as progress is being made in the development of ocean energy technologies, the increasing trend in Federal expenditures is likely to continue to rise.At the time of this report, few full scale commercialized ocean energy conversion systems have been tied to the grid. A number of small prototypes are being tested, primarily in wave and marine current technologies, and this number is growing. Technical and financial support from governments across the globe may be crucial in moving new ocean energy technology from prototype to commercially viable product.

It is now widely recognized that there is a need for long-term secure and suitable sustainable forms of energy. Renewable energy from the marine environment, in particular renewable energy from tidal currents, wave and wind, can help achieve a sustainable energy future. Our understanding of environmental impacts and suitable mitigation methods associated with extracting renewable energy from the marine environment is improving all the time and it is essential that we be able to distinguish between natural and anthropocentric drivers and impacts. An overview of current understanding of the environmental implications of marine renewable energy technology is provided.

The authors of this timely reference provide an updated and global view on ocean wave energy conversion – and they do so for wave energy developers as well as for students and professors. The book is orientated to the practical solutions that this new industry has found so far and the problems that any device needs to face. It describes the actual principles applied to machines that convert wave power to electricity and examines state-of-the-art modern systems.

Ocean and marine energy refers to various forms of renewable electric energy harnessed from the ocean. There are two primary types of ocean energy: mechanical and thermal. The rotation of the earth and the moon's gravitational pull create mechanical forces. The rotation of the earth creates wind on the ocean surface that forms waves, while the gravitational pull of the moon creates coastal tides and currents. Thermal energy is derived from the sun, which heats the surface of the ocean while the depths remain colder. This temperature difference allows energy to be captured and converted to electric power. This book presents an overview of ocean energy technology as a source of renewable energy for U.S. Federal sites. It investigates ocean energy resources and new technologies under development to capture that energy spanning: wave energy, tidal energy, marine current energy and ocean thermal energy conversion.

Energy from wave and tidal power is a key component of current policies for renewable sources of energy. This book provides the first comprehensive exploration of legal, economic, and social issues related to the emerging ocean energy industry, in particular wave and tidal energy technologies. This industry is rapidly developing, and considerable technical literature has developed around the technology. However, it is shown that challenges relating to regulation and policy are major impediments to industry development, and these aspects have not previously been sufficiently highlighted and studied. The book informs policymakers, industry participants, and researchers of the key issues in this developing field. Ocean energy is considered in the context of the blue economy and an industrialising ocean, and the topics covered include: development of policy (policy instruments, risk and delay in technology development); legal aspects (consenting processes, resource management, impact assessment); human interactions (conflicts, consultation, community benefits); and spatial planning of the marine environment. While offshore wind energy, sited in the oceans but not strictly derived from the ocean, is not the primary focus of the book, there is also discussion of the similarities and differences between offshore wind and wave and tidal power policy dimensions.

Fundamentals of Ocean Renewable Energy: Generating Electricity from the Sea presents the basic concepts of mechanics and introduces the various technical aspects of ocean renewable energy. Contents follow a logical sequence, starting with hydrodynamics and then separately examining each conversion technology, with special focus on tidal energy, offshore wind and wave energy, as well as current and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). The authors explore key topics for resource characterization and optimization, such as monitoring and measurement methods and ocean modeling. They also discuss the sustainability, planning, integration and distribution challenges for the implementation of these technologies, including co-location with other systems. Finally, case studies of ocean energy sites and devices allow for a better understanding of how ocean energy conversion works in real-world settings. This book is an invaluable resource for students at graduate and senior undergraduate level engineering (ocean, mechanical, and civil) and oceanography with prior knowledge of fluid mechanics and mechanics of materials. Presents the fundamental physics and theory behind ocean energy systems, covering both oceanographic and engineering aspects of ocean energy Explores the most widely adopted conversion technologies, including tidal, wave, offshore wind, ocean thermal and currents

Ocean and marine energy refers to various forms of renewable electric energy harnessed from the ocean. There are two primary types of ocean energy: mechanical and thermal. The rotation of the earth and the moon's gravitational pull create mechanical forces. The rotation of the earth creates wind on the ocean surface that forms waves, while the gravitational pull of the moon creates coastal tides and currents. Thermal energy is derived from the sun, which heats the surface of the ocean while the depths remain colder. This temperature difference allows energy to be captured and converted to electric power. This book presents an overview of ocean energy technology as a source of renewable energy for U.S. Federal sites. It investigates ocean energy resources and new technologies under development to capture that energy spanning: wave energy, tidal energy, marine current energy and ocean thermal energy conversion.