Introduction
Ocean wave power technology entails the capturing of wind energy in water waves to accomplish vital tasks such as the generation of electric power, pumping of water, and desalinization of seawater. Prior to breaking on the shore, ocean waves have been established to carry enormous energy. For example, the amount of energy held in just a single wave is enough to power an electric vehicle for about 160 kilometers.
Researchers are in the process of harvesting and conversion of the energy held in ocean waves into cost-effective and dependable electric power. With close to 50% of the American populace residing within 50 miles to the coastline, the United States can create an energy industry and satisfy the rising requirement for power with the reliable and predictable resource (Lehmann et al., 2017). Identification of effective wave converters that can efficiently generate electric power is a major goal of the department of energy in countries across the globe.
Benefit
The benefit of ocean wave power technology lies is its supply of electric power to the grid, as well as for other uses. This technology could be used to power numerous coastal homes and businesses thus saving much energy costs (Lehmann et al., 2017). Development of only 30% of the available ocean wave power close to Pacific states can support more than 30,000 jobs and gratify nearly 50% of West Coast energy demand (Farrok et al., 2020).
Attributable to its reliability, ocean wave power may be generated near load centers to decrease transmission requirements and alleviate incorporation onto the grid. Furthermore, ocean wave energy can power distributed appliances in the near future, for instance, desalinization plants that eliminate salt from sea (salty) water to help water-insecure regions as well as military bases.
Ocean wave power technology may be harmful to the marine ecosystem. Regardless of ocean waves producing clean energy, the process creates hazards for water creatures attributable to the huge machinery that is required. The installation and use of such machines create disruptions on the seafloor thus destroying the habitat of creatures such as starfish and crabs over and above the noise that disturbs marine life (Farrok et al., 2016). Moreover, there is the hazard of toxic chemicals that are utilized on wave energy machines spilling and polluting ocean water. Ocean wave power technology will not be gendered since its characteristics are not suited to, do not reflect the experiences of, and are not biased towards one sex.
Risks and Relationships
Numerous sophisticated and costly devices capture ocean waves for the generation of valuable power. The required components work together and the breakdown of a single element may bring down the entire system (Farrok et al., 2016). Wave energy converters that operate excellently in a given location may fail terribly in another attributable to the lack of a standard design, which might result in unnecessary costs. Additionally, calamities such as tsunamis and hurricanes pose a great risk of the destruction of equipment, and this may be worsened by the daily crashing of ocean equipment over the years (Mwasilu & Jung, 2018). Small plants and animals in the ocean may also attach to moving sections of equipment underwater thus creating the possibility for expensive maintenance and breakdowns.
The increased urge for the development of ocean wave power has been caused by the challenges of electrical energy generation and environmental pollution. This has made engineers, researchers, and scientists resort to renewable sources of energy such as ocean wave power in an effort of amicably solving underlying problems (Mwasilu & Jung, 2018). Ocean wave power is a promising environmental friendly energy that makes a noteworthy contribution toward the preservation of biochemical resources and decreasing carbon emissions. Furthermore, wave dynamics and strength, as well as the behavior of the ocean, are a great determinant of the effectiveness of power generation.
Evaluation and Considerations
To successfully evaluate failures or successes of ocean wave power technology, there is a need to have approximation of both utilizable resources and the total potential (Farrok et al., 2016). Variations in ocean wave properties when it shifts from deep positions to the shoreline are vital because they influence the wave energy resource and effectiveness of the technology. Categorization of ocean wave properties makes sure that suitable technology for the generation of maximum amount of power is used. For the energy resource evaluation close to the shoreline, the criteria applied entails a check of the site of waves quality encompassing reaction, shoaling, and creation of hotspots that have high energy potential as they travel from deep positions.
The assessment of changes in wave properties in each section and how they are pronounced is a criterion for evaluating the failures and successes of ocean wave power technology. This necessitates more data segments to evaluate the wave energy resource precisely.
Computerized applications have provided effective techniques for simulating and forecasting wave properties (Mwasilu & Jung, 2018). Recent developments in the evaluation of ocean wave power technology have improved from only foretelling the quality of wave properties and estimation of their potential to computer components that effectively examine sequential and spatial inconsistency of the resource. Moreover, merging of optimization techniques with statistics attained from wave property evaluation tools has enabled further improvement of accuracy in technology assessment.
Political establishments, lawmakers, and governments around the world should carefully consider the impact of ocean wave power generation on their respective countries and the world at large. Although it is a renewable energy source, ocean wave power technology is relatively new and there are insufficient details regarding it (Farrok et al., 2016). This necessitates political establishments to be more careful to avoid unnecessary costs or intensive damage to marine life (Aderinto & Li, 2018).
Effective considerations underscore the magnitude of this technology to utilize politically considerate decisions so that stakeholders in doubt may eventually be integrated as supporters of such endeavors instead of opponents who create hindrances. This is well accomplished through concentration on supportive endeavors that merge stakeholders in an attempt to articulate decisions regarding ocean wave power technology projects. Political considerations will lead to successful evaluation hence make decision-makers effectively gain the support of stakeholders to upgrade to commercial size schemes.
Pros and Cons
One of the pros of ocean wave power technology is that the process is devoid of the emission of unsafe greenhouse gases. This has been the main motivating aspect behind further developments of the technology (Farrok et al., 2016). There is a rising urge across the world to establish clean energy sources that will reinstate harmful ones such as fossil fuels (Mwasilu & Jung, 2018). A second advantage is that similar to most green energy sources, ocean wave power is renewable. Because ocean wave power emanates from heat energy from the sun, it is bound to last and will not disappear any time soon. Furthermore, this technology has enormous energy potential as the magnitude of power that is generated from waves is vast. The power density ranges characteristically from 30 to 100 kW for each meter of wave.
Negative impact on the environment is a major drawback of ocean wave power technology. Huge power machinery is required and might result in divergences with tourism preferences, in addition to local acceptance (Farrok et al., 2016). This necessitates coastal installations and establishments on land to satisfy high restrictions with respect to position and size. Another disadvantage of ocean wave power technology is its uncertainty and high costs (de Andres et al., 2017).
This technology is in very early phases of development, which makes consideration of costs difficult. Currently, expenses involved in ocean wave power technology are exceedingly high. Apart from high costs, the lifespan is an uncertain aspect. This could be attributed to the technology being reasonably new and inadequacy of data concerning the period that the power inventions may practically operate.
Market and Impact
Different facets such as rising international energy consumption and requirement for low carbon economy will create receptive markets for ocean wave power. Other aspects that may create a receptive market for ocean wave power encompass the need for an environmentally friendly energy resource and regions struggling against climatic changes. Moreover, exhaustion of fossil fuel along with geopolitics of oil systems might augment the concerns of establishing an alternative source of energy and create a ready market (Farrok et al., 2016).
Therefore, when it becomes vastly available around the world, ocean wave power technology will provide a promising solution to the international energy demand and predicaments. A suitable international market will be built on the rising interest and highly anticipated sustainability of renewable energy sources of electric power (Mwasilu & Jung, 2018). Ocean wave power will act as a reliable source that will bridge the existing gap that has been prevailing in the international energy context.
Ocean wave power technology applies to science since it utilizes scientific principles such as pressure and energy without which it is futile. In the technology, ocean wave energy is harnessed directly from pressure variations on water bodies. Waves carrying vital energy are generated by winds gusting over the ocean surface. Installed machinery generates electric power from pressure fluctuations and ensuing motion (de Andres et al., 2017). Ocean wave strength is converted to electric power by wave energy converters. This is facilitated by ocean surface moving quicker than submerged segments and converters generate energy from the relative movements.
Large mechanical equipment placed in active ocean ecosystem is problematical. For instance, rotating blades have a likelihood of killing or injuring marine species. Coastal machinery for the generation of wave power upsets the whole estuarial environment (Farrok et al., 2016). Mechanical gadgets also can cause leakage of oil lubricant and create noises that are troublesome hence causing a long-term negative effect for fish and marine life to a point of causing their death (de Andres et al., 2017). Nevertheless, engineers can fine-tune their designs in an effort of lessening environmental damage though they cannot be sure of what may happen until later after the issue has worsened. Therefore, it is hard to resolve arising problems early before they become expensive.
Considerations and Jobs
Ocean wave power technology has a negative influence on marine biodiversity and vital ecosystem services for human beings. Since numerous scientific uncertainties linger regardless of extensive research endeavors, ethical and precautionary measures ought to be employed. Concerning ocean pollution and its impact of marine life, accountability should be upheld for the benefit of what future generations will enjoy (Mwasilu & Jung, 2018).
Ethical considerations of the government and energy department should be based on their careful assessment of risks entailed and recognition of rationales for concern, which necessitate value judgment regarding losses and malfunctions at stake and that should be averted. Human activities have the ability to protect, develop, or harm. By surmounting the existing illusion, people should sustain their responsibility for the future of oceans and marine life.
Ocean wave power technology will create jobs in companies manufacturing required machinery, for the people who use the equipment, and for businesses that will utilize the energy generated and their employees. This will have a great potential for rural and local development through generation of employment opportunities and reinforcement of domestic sectors (de Andres et al., 2017). Nevertheless, increased use of ocean wave power will result in decreased consumption of hydroelectric and wind energy thus loss of employment to some of the people working in such companies.
Conclusion
Researchers and engineers are in the progression of converting the energy existing in ocean waves into cost-effective and reliable electric power. Ocean wave power expertise will create jobs in companies manufacturing essential machinery and businesses that will employ the energy generated. However, there will be potential jobs lost for some employees in hydroelectric and wind power companies. Discovery of successful wave converters that can efficiently produce electric power is a fundamental objective of the department of energy.
References
Aderinto, T., & Li, H. (2018). Ocean wave energy converters: Status and challenges. Energies, 11(5), 1-26.
de Andres, A., MacGillivray, A., Roberts, O., Guanche, R., & Jeffrey, H. (2017). Beyond LCOE: A study of ocean energy technology development and deployment attractiveness. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 19, 1-16.
Farrok, O., Ahmed, K., Tahlil, A. D., Farah, M. M., Kiran, M. R., & Islam, M. (2020). Electrical power generation from the oceanic wave for sustainable advancement in renewable energy technologies. Sustainability, 12(6), 2178-2183.
Farrok, O., Islam, M., Sheikh, M., & Islam, R. (2016). Analysis of the oceanic wave dynamics for generation of electrical energy using a linear generator. Journal of Energy, 1(1), 1-15. Web.
Lehmann, M., Karimpour, F., Goudey, C. A., Jacobson, P. T., & Alam, M. R. (2017). Ocean wave energy in the United States: Current status and future perspectives. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 74, 1300-1313.
Mwasilu, F., & Jung, J. W. (2018). Potential for power generation from ocean wave renewable energy source: A comprehensive review on state-of-the-art technology and future prospects. IET Renewable Power Generation, 13(3), 363-375.