This spotlight explores renewable ocean energy technology. These technologies include:
- Wave energy converters, which generate power from surface waves
- Tidal energy converters, which generate power from the movement of tidal currents
- Ocean thermal energy converters, which generate power from thermal differences between warm surface seawater and cold deep seawater
Ocean energy could power offshore activities and isolated island and coastal communities. However, these technologies are generally costlier than other renewable energy technologies, so it may be some time before they can be fully deployed.
A system used for harnessing tidal energy.
Why This Matters
Renewable ocean energy has the potential to reduce global carbon emissions from fossil fuels by 500 million tons by 2050, and could also meet the energy needs of isolated communities, which may not have access to reliable electricity sources. However, the technologies can be costly and more research is needed to understand their potential effects on marine wildlife.
The Technology
What is it? Renewable ocean energy (or, simply, ocean energy), is energy derived from the ocean’s movement, or from its physical and chemical state. In the United States, ocean energy can be generated from waves, tides, and currents, as well as ocean temperature differences. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that if fully utilized, ocean energy resources in the U.S. could provide the equivalent of over half of the electricity that the country generated in 2019. U.S. government and industry stakeholders predict that ocean energy will likely be first used to provide power for energy and water needs of island and coastal communities and offshore activities. According to these stakeholders, using ocean energy for these activities and communities will help advance the technologies and contribute toward making ocean energy cost-competitive in some additional markets.
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