Advancements in wave energy technology (WEC) have been slow, mainly because of the harsh marine environments WECs must operate in, as well as the complex regulatory requirements. Tiffany Plate at NREL explains it’s why the U.S. Department of Energy and NREL have collaborated on the Small WEC Analysis tool, publicly available online. Its purpose is to provide baseline information about the performance of different types of WECs in various ocean … [Read more...]
New thermoplastic blades for coastal Tidal Energy turbines
Large-scale tidal power turbines provide an option for clean energy generation that doesn’t depend on the weather, like wind and solar. Research led by NREL is using, for the first time anywhere, thermoplastic composite blades that will improve fatigue performance over typical epoxy blades, can be manufactured faster and more energy-efficiently, and can be recycled. The test site is located in New York City's East River, installed in Verdant … [Read more...]
Wave Energy: how variable geometry designs can raise conversion efficiency
Wave energy is another renewable technology waiting to break through. One main challenge is that about 35%–50% of WEC (wave energy converter) costs come from the device structure alone. Researchers at NREL are experimenting with variable geometry, changing the shape of the WEC so that in more energetic seas the structural loads are controlled. In turbulent seas the excess load can easily be shed, while when the seas are quiet the maximum energy … [Read more...]
Unlocking the potential of Ocean Energy: from megawatts to gigawatts
When you consider the expanse of the world’s oceans no one should be surprised that the theoretical potential for electricity generated from ocean energy is several times total global energy demand. Of course, that potential needs to be harnessed at commercial prices. Francisco Boshell, Roland Roesch, Alessandra Salgado and Judit Hecke at IRENA run through the technologies used to extract energy from tides and waves, the potential near-term … [Read more...]
