Are Oceans an Inexhaustible Source of Energy?

Harnessing tides waves and ocean currents and ocean temperature differences.

Are oceans an inexhaustible source of energy? 

Close-up 

Did you know that oceans cover 71% of the Earth’s surface? 

Various technologies are being developed to harness the ocean’s inexhaustible resources and produce cleaner

electricity

Form of energy resulting from the movement of charged particles (electrons) through a conduct...

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. The different forms of energy are referred to as “BLUE ENERGY”. 

The ocean’s energy production potential is estimated between 100,000 and 150,000 TWh per year – around 5 to 7 times more than total

onshore

Designate onshore exploration or exploitation areas and operations (e.g. a wind farm, an onsh...

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production. 

Blue energy faces a number of obstacles, however, including: 

• Installation costs
• Open-sea maintenance

• Corrosion

  The gradual degradation of a material by a physical or physicochemical reaction with its envi...

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• Impact on the landscape
• Competition from the fishing industry 
   

Examples of projects:

1. La Rance

   tidal power plant

   A power-generating station that harnesses the energy of tidal currents. The difference in hei...

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• France 
• The station’s 24 turbines have been harnessing the large tide differential since 1966. 
• Output: 540 GWh/year, equivalent to the energy use of a city of 300,000 people. 
   

2. Wave

   power

   In physics, power is the amount of energy supplied by a system per unit time. In simpler term...

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   station

• Australia 
• The system comprises underwater buoys equipped with hydraulic pumps driven by the motion of waves. The energy produced is sent in the form of high-pressure water to an onshore power plant. 
• Current output: 3 MW, enough to provide electricity to 1,500 to 2,000 households. 
   

3. Harmmerfest tidal turbines

• Norway 
• Tidal turbine structures with a diameter of 20 m are installed at a depth of 50 m. 
• Based on a mean current of 1.8 m/s, the devices have a rated power of 300 kW. 
   

4. Heat

   In the field of statistical thermodynamics today, heat refers to the transfer of the thermal ...

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   pumps

• Monaco 
• Monaco generates 15% of its electricity from heat pumps that take heat or cold from seawater to heat or cool buildings.