Harnessing the Energy of the Oceans :: Technology Engineering Papers

Jamie Lee Wise’s essay examines the varying sources of electrical energy that we can draw from the oceans. In her well-organized and researched essay, Wise carefully explains the sources and then discusses both the benefits and drawbacks of each source. In the end, Wise’s paper argues that "public awareness and education concerning the benefits of renewable energy sources need to be increased," and that the oceans can be a valuable resourece "only if we take steps to preserve this natural wonder and use it responsibly." Harnessing the Energy of the Oceans Introduction The oceans cover nearly three-quarters of our planet and contain a vast reserve of resources, yet we are only beginning to tap their full potential. The oceans can provide a wide variety of foods, desalinated water, minerals, electricity, transportation, and recreation for the people of our world; however, this discussion will be limited to sources of electrical energy that can be harnessed from the seas. The world’s energy consumption is currently doubling every 12 years and the consequences of our heavy dependence on fossil fuels are becoming increasingly apparent. Several studies have estimated that our "present reserves of oil and natural gas will be consumed within a few decades, and coal within a few centuries." In addition, "political instability in the Middle East has demonstrated the economic consequences of oil dependence" (Bregman, Knapp, and Takahashi; 1996). Environmental and political concerns are just two reasons why alternative energy sources, such as ocean energy conversion, need to be considered. Overview of Ocean Energy Conversion Technologies Technologies that currently exist for generating electrical power from the oceans can be grouped into six broad categories: thermal energy, tidal power, wave power, ocean currents, ocean winds, and chemical sources. According to Ron Bregman, an Ocean Resource Engineer, the most promising and well-developed of these technologies are thermal energy, tidal power, and wave power (1996). Thermal Energy The oceans are the world’s largest solar collectors. Each day the oceans absorb an amount of solar radiation equivalent in heat content to about 250 billion barrels of oil, according to Michael Champ in Sea Technology (1995). This solar energy that is absorbed by the oceans as heat can be converted to electricity by a process known as Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion or OTEC. This technology is based on the large temperature differential between the warm tropical surface waters and the near freezing waters of the deep ocean (Vega, 1995).