1. The Renewable Future for the UK
Wave Power
Nicola Thomas
The Renewable Future for the UK
24th February 2005

2. Wave Power
Waves are created by interaction with wind on the surface of the water.
The wind blows across the Atlantic Ocean all the way from America.
This large distance means the UK has one of the highest wave power levels in the world.

3. European Wave Resource Chart
Wave Power - The Resource
European Wave Resource Chart
The chart shows annual average wave power in kilowatts per metre of crest width for various European sites. (Ocean Power Delivery Limited, 2005)

4. Wave Power – The Potential
There is sufficient energy breaking on the UK shoreline to power the country three times over.
However, it is not practical to recover all the energy.
The economically recoverable resource for the UK has been estimated to be 87 TWh/y-1.

5. Wave Power – The Technology
There are two major areas of wave power:
Shore-line
Offshore
The wave industry has many technologies striving for success, very few will, however, eventually achieve commercialisation.

6. Wave Power – The Devices
There are two current potential commercial technologies.
One is shoreline and the other is offshore.
The Limpet - Wavegen (Shoreline)
The Pelamis - OPD (Offshore)

7. Wave Power – The Technology
Pelamis has a generating capacity of 750 kW
The Pelamis is a semi-submerged structure. Wave-induced motion of hinged joints is resisted by hydraulic rams. This pumps oil through hydraulic motors which drive electrical generators giving electricity.
Limpet has a generating capacity of 500 kW and currently powers 300 homes in Islay.
Limpet uses the Oscillating Water Column Technology. This relies on the motion of the waves compressing and sucking air through a turbine which powers a generator.

8. Wave Power – The Predictions OFFSHORE
The Pelamis will not be ready to go commercial for another 5 years from present.
Due to this the prediction for offshore is
0 PJ
2010

9. Wave Power – The Predictions OFFSHORE
Due to scale of Pelamis I predict there will be a yearly build rate of 200 devices each taking 3 months to build.
Load factor will be less than wind ~ 0.2
This is generation in 5 years:-
200 x 750 = kW
x 0.2 x 8736
= kWh x 5
= / 1000
= MWh/y-1 Or
= 4.72 PJ
2015

10. Wave Power – The Predictions OFFSHORE
I predict that in 5 years from the initial phase of commercialisation the amount of energy generated will double due to and increase in the number of wave farms
2000 devices deployed
= MWh/y-1 Or
= 9.43 PJ
2020

11. Wave Power – The Predictions OFFSHORE
3000 devices deployed
x 3
= MWh/y-1 Or
= PJ
4000 devices deployed
x 4 =
= PJ
Again I believe that in 2025 and 2030 the industry will remain at a constant increase as although manufacture may improve the number of suitable locations may decrease due to adverse effects on shipping and other activities.
2025 & 2030

12. Wave Power – The Predictions OFFSHORE
The energy consumption for the UK is PJ per year.
With Offshore Wave power producing PJ
It would therefore be able to contribute
0.17%
of the UK's needs.

13. Wave Power – The Predictions SHORELINE
These devices again are unlikely to be fully commercial until after 2010
The prediction is 0MW.
2010

14. Wave Power – The Predictions SHORELINE
Scottish coastline length: 16,491 km
Spacing of devices 1 device = 1 km
The major constraint for this type of shore based technology is location.
These devices can only be built into hard rock. The South and the East coastlines, excluding Cornwall, are therefore not ideal.
Pembrokeshire and West Scotland are good locations.
Build scale of around 30 per year
This would take up 30 km/y-1
A maximum number of devices is 16, 491.
~10% of coastline is probably optimal.
This is equal to 1649 devices
30 devices every year for 20 years = 600 devices by 2030

15. Wave Power – The Predictions SHORELINE
600 x 500
=300000kW/1000
=300 MW
300 x 0.2 x 8736
= MWh/y-1
1.89 PJ
This works out at
0.0179%
of the UK’s demand
By 2030 the Onshore wave industry will be generating PJ
As discussed earlier the major limiting factor for this technology is space.
Large opposition would be created if it was proposed to put wave plants every 100 m along the coast.
This wave plant also has a lower load factor than wind.
2030

16. Wave Power – The Predictions Together
Together Offshore wave and onshore wave can produce PJ by 2030.
This works out at
0.2% of the UK’s energy demand
2030

17. Wave Power - Major Restrictions
Costs:
Competition with lower cost technologies.
Technology
Force of the sea (Osprey)
Transmission
Fewer potential sites
Higher installation costs
Individual projects (economies of scale)

18. The Renewable Future for the UK
Wave Power
The Renewable Future for the UK
THE END