Abstract:
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Man has been using a small percentage of the Earth’s water power for a number of years as many large hydroelectric dams have been constructed. But, this renewable and clean energy resource is only a small fraction of the water power this planet has to offer.
The setup for this type of energy consists of offshore underwater turbines that capitalize on extracting electrical energy from the ocean’s currents. These devices may be setup where the underwater currents are the strongest and generate electricity, which may be stored in batteries or electrolyzed into hydrogen for storage (and run through a fuel cell later) or piped directly onshore, depending upon the distance from the turbines to land.
The turbine can be either be that used in production of hydro-electricity or that used in wind energy production.
Technical analysis covers the study of the amount electricity generated and the effective cost saved
Future studies include the development, growth and marketing of this type of ocean power technology at extremely large scale so as to reduce the ever increasing load on other polluting and non-renewable power plants for electricity
INTRODUCTION:
Demand for energy is increasing day by day with growing industrialization and mechanization in every field, there is a need to tap all possible sources of energy, more importantly all types of renewable and clean energy resources so that the future doesn’t look dark and we get never ending supply of energy.
Research is going on for the further developments in all forms of renewable energy, be it solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy or biomass energy.However, one of the most significant energy which remains untouched is the energy produced by the waves in the oceans. Experts estimate that 0.2 percent of the ocean's untapped energy could power the entire world.
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS:
Power wave generation system capture and converts wave energy into low-cost, clean electricity. The rising and falling of the waves off shore causes the turbine to rotate. The resultant mechanical stroking is converted via a sophisticated power take-off to drive an electrical generator. The generated power is transmitted ashore via an underwater power cable.
A 10-Megawatt OPT power station would occupy only approximately 30 acres (0.125 square kilometers) of ocean space.
• Buoys are spaced to maximize energy capture.
• Rugged, simple steel construction.
• Utilizes conventional mooring systems.
• Simple installation using existing marine vessels and infrastructure.
• Scalable to large power stations (100+ MW)
Since wave speed is not constant, the annual energy production is never as much as the sum of the generator nameplate ratings multiplied by the
total hours in a year. The ratio of actual productivity in a year to this theoretical maximum is called the capacity factor. Typical capacity factors are 20-40%, with values at the upper end of the range in particularly favourable sites.[
For example, a 1 megawatt turbine with a capacity factor of 35% will not produce 8,760 megawatt-hours in a year (1x24x365), but only 0.35x24x365 = 3,066 MWh, averaging to 0.35 MW. Online data is available for the locations and the capacity factor can be calculated from the yearly output.
Economic Analysis:
Modern turbine generators cost between $1500 and $2000 per kilowatt.
Consider cost of turbine= $1500/kw
.∙. for 1MW turbine= $1,500,000
But since the power factor is 35% we need 10/.35 ≈28 turbines to produce 10MW of energy.
.∙.the cost of 28 turbines=$1,500,000×28=$42,000,000.
Installation charges=$100/kw
.∙.for 1 MW =$100,000.
.∙.for 28 turbines of 1MW =$2,800,000.
.∙.total initial expenses =$44,800,000.
Now maintenance charges are around (yearly basis)
$10,000 per turbine.
.∙. $280,000 for 10MW of production.
This comes to around $75 per MW of electricity produced which comes to be very cheap compared to all other conventional type of power production.
Conclusion:
The oil and coal getting died out very soon there is an immediate need to find other sources to produce electricity that can be reliable and economical. And when there is immense renewable power available for free in our own backyard is there any need to go anywhere else?
References:
Wikipedia
Suzlon Energy
