Page 31 - Fundamentals of Ocean Renewable Energy Generating Electricity From The Sea

22 Fundamentals of Ocean Renewable Energy

FIG. 1.14 Schematic representation of the energy contained in ocean surface waves. (Based on a
figure first presented by B. Kinsman, Wind Waves: Their Generation and Propagation on the Ocean
Surface, Courier Corporation, 1965.)

absorbers exploit the potential energy of waves, and tidal lagoons have the
possibility for significant scale (e.g. >1 GW) tidal range power plants (based on
the potential energy of tides). By contrast, oscillating wave converters and tidal
stream converters exploit the kinetic energy of waves and tides, respectively.

1.4.2 Lessons From the Wind Energy Industry

The ocean renewable energy industry has many lessons to learn from the
firmly established wind energy sector. The history of wind power extends back
over a thousand years: the earliest wind-powered grain mills were used by
the Persians in AD 500–900, and the Chinese in AD 1200. The first wind
turbine that generated electricity was built in Scotland in 1887 by Prof. James
Blyth. However, it was not until the 1970s that the deployment of modern wind
turbines commenced, as a response to the 1973 oil crisis. Looking at subsequent
milestones in the development of the wind energy industry, it took over 40 years
to move from prototype to industrial roll-out (Fig. 1.15). In 1991, the average

12 kW 3-Bladed Offshore Average Average 10% EU
turbines 200 kW Renewable farm 450kW onshore offshore power
obligation in
(Scotland turbine turbines turbine size turbine size demand
& Ohio) (Denmark) United States (Denmark) = 1MW = 1MW
1887 1956 1978 1991 2001 2002 2014

Prototype to industrial roll-out: 40+ years
FIG. 1.15 Development of wind turbines, from early prototypes to industrial roll-out. (Based on
a figure presented in the Ocean Energy Forum, Ocean Energy Strategic Roadmap—Building Ocean
Energy for Europe, 2016.)