Ocean Energy
"The oceans cover 71% of the earth’s surface and approximately 3 billion people live within 200 km off the coast. Ocean Energy has vast potential for the delivery of power, drinking water, and other products to coastal markets. The International Energy Agency Roadmap projects that by 2050, ocean energy technologies have the potential to provide 300 GW of renewable energy generation capacity, supporting the global transition to Net Zero.
The aim of the TU Delft Ocean Energy platform is to stimulate research and education in ocean energies at Delft University of Technology. The steering group develops a joint research agenda, pursues funding opportunities, stimulates internal knowledge exchange, and takes care of external communication about ocean energy at Delft University. There are various types of ocean energy technologies that can exploit the potential contained in our seas, such as Wave Energy, Tidal/Current Energy, and Ocean Thermal Gradient (OTEC)
Website: https://www.tudelft.nl/en/ocean-energy
Wave Energy
With an estimated worldwide potential in the order of 29,500 TWh per year, waves are amongst the highest energy dense renewable resource. Waves are a result of wind and ocean interactions, that lead to generation of local waves which tent to be amplified as they propagate. Wave energy has the advantage of being predictable and less volatile compared to some of the other renewable energy sources.
Wave Energy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uONkUgtac7A
Tidal/Current Energy
With an estimated worldwide resource of 800-1200TWh per year, tidal flows provide a consistent source of kinetic energy as a result of the interaction between the gravitational forces of the Earth-Moon-Sun system. Tidal energy technologies have the advantage of being highly predictable are not influenced by weather conditions, therefore one of the most reliable sources of renewable energy. Tidal energy will contribute significantly to the decarbonisation of our energy systems.
Tidal Stream/Current: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uo4qBx1_ZY
Tidal Range: https://youtu.be/sLIHQ-2TbvA
Thermal Gradient (OTEC)
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a renewable energy technology that uses the natural temperature difference in oceans to produce clean, reliable electricity, day and night, year-round. OTEC has not only the capability to produce decarbonized electricity baseload, but it can also produce fresh drinkable water from the sea by desalination, always in great need in tropical areas.
OTEC: https://youtu.be/FHBVgRWAt3c
Representatives
· Dr. Antonio Jarquin Laguna, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
· Dr. George Lavidas, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
· Friso Lippmann, Innovation & Impact Centre
Website
https://www.tudelft.nl/en/ocean-energy