Why wave power isn't everywhere (yet)

Summary

In 1974, the Edinburgh Duck, a wave energy device, was invented but never realized its potential. Despite numerous attempts and over a thousand patents, wave power remains underutilized due to the complex nature of waves and the harsh marine environment. However, with advancements in technology and a renewed focus on renewable energy, wave power is re-emerging as a viable alternative, especially for offshore oil rigs and remote islands. As the industry matures, economies of scale and continued investment could make wave power a significant contributor to the global energy mix by 2050.

Takeaways

• 🦆 In 1974, the Edinburgh Duck was invented as a novel wave energy device that attracted global attention but never saw widespread implementation.
• 🌊 Wave power technology has been in development for at least 200 years with over a thousand patents filed, reflecting the complexity and diversity of wave energy capture methods.
• 🌍 The size and power of waves are influenced by wind strength, duration, and the distance over which the wind blows unobstructed, leading to larger waves along certain coastlines.
• 🔄 Waves transfer energy through circular motion of water particles near the surface, which is why wave energy devices are designed to capture this movement in various ways.
• 🌐 There are three main types of wave energy converters: point-absorbers, surface attenuators, and oscillating water columns, each with distinct mechanisms for harnessing wave energy.
• 💡 The Edinburgh Duck is categorized as a 'terminator', similar to a surface attenuator, which captures energy from waves passing through its structure.
• 🛠 The harsh marine environment poses significant challenges for wave energy devices, including corrosion from saltwater and the need for costly maintenance.
• 💸 High initial investment and competition from other energy sources, such as nuclear power and onshore renewables, have historically hindered the growth of wave power technology.
• 🌿 Despite the challenges, wave power's reliability and predictability make it a valuable alternative energy source, especially in conditions where wind and solar are less effective.
• 🌐 The potential for wave power is vast, with estimates suggesting it could generate 10% of global power by 2050, contributing significantly to the energy mix and the move towards net-zero emissions.
• 🏭 Recent developments include successful deployments in Australia, investments by the US Navy, and innovative approaches in Japan, indicating a resurgence in wave power technology.

Q & A

What was the Edinburgh Duck and why was it significant?

The Edinburgh Duck was a wave energy device invented by a Scottish professor in 1974. It was significant because it attracted attention from the UK government and the global press due to its potential to generate clean electricity from the consistent and powerful waves.

Why did wave power technologies like the Edinburgh Duck not become widely adopted?

Wave power technologies did not become widely adopted due to a combination of factors including the complexity of waves, the hostile ocean environment causing corrosion and maintenance issues, high initial investment costs, and competition from other energy sources like nuclear power, wind, and solar.

How do waves form and what factors determine their size?

Waves form when wind blows over the ocean, and the friction between the moving air and the water surface causes ripples that grow into waves. The size of the waves depends on the strength of the wind, how long and far it blows unobstructed over water, and the depth of the water.

What are the main types of wave energy devices mentioned in the script?

The main types of wave energy devices mentioned are point-absorbers, surface attenuators, and oscillating water columns. The Edinburgh Duck belongs to a category called terminators, similar to surface attenuators.

What are the challenges faced by wave energy devices in real-world conditions?

Wave energy devices face challenges such as the corrosive nature of salt water, marine creatures colonizing the devices, high maintenance costs, and the need for divers, boats, and platforms for underwater maintenance.

Why did wave power lose out to other energy sources in the past?

Wave power lost out to other energy sources like nuclear power and onshore renewables (wind and solar) due to higher costs, reliability issues, and a lack of sustained funding and support during critical periods of development.

What role does wave power have in the current energy crisis and the push for net-zero emissions?

Wave power can play a significant role in the current energy crisis and the push for net-zero emissions by providing a reliable and predictable source of energy, especially during times when solar and wind are not available, and by offering a high power-to-space ratio compared to wind turbines.

What are some of the recent developments and investments in wave power technology?

Recent developments include successful testing of devices in Australia, investments by the US Navy, and innovative approaches in Japan. In 2021, Europe saw a threefold increase in wave power capacity installation, and both public and private investments rose significantly.

How does wave power's environmental impact compare to other renewable energy sources?

While some wave energy devices could potentially disturb the seafloor habitat and create noise, early indications suggest that the overall environmental impact is relatively low, especially considering that most devices float with the current and are unlikely to collide with marine mammals.

What are some potential markets and applications for wave power in the future?

Potential markets for wave power include offshore oil rigs, islands lacking grid connection, and the aquaculture industry. Wave power can also be combined with offshore wind and solar panels to create a diverse and sustainable energy mix.

What does the future hold for wave power in terms of global energy production?

The future of wave power looks promising, with estimates suggesting that by 2050 it could generate 10% of global power. The industry needs continued support, investment, and time to test and refine technologies to bring down costs and increase efficiency.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 The Edinburgh Duck: A Wave of Innovation

In 1974, a Scottish professor invented the Edinburgh Duck, a wave energy device that could have revolutionized the energy sector. The duck used the motion of waves to generate electricity, attracting global attention due to the vast potential of wave energy. Despite the hype, wave energy technology, including the Duck, did not progress as expected. The complexity of waves, which move in multiple directions and vary in size and intensity, has made it challenging to develop efficient wave energy devices. Over two centuries, numerous attempts and over a thousand patents have been filed, reflecting the ongoing struggle to harness ocean energy effectively.

05:02

🔄 The Ups and Downs of Wave Energy Development

Wave energy technology has faced significant challenges, including the hostile marine environment that corrodes materials and increases maintenance costs. Despite these obstacles, wave power has seen periods of interest and investment, particularly during energy crises. The 1973 oil crisis initially spurred interest in the Edinburgh Duck, but it was later overshadowed by the nuclear industry. A resurgence in wave energy occurred in the 2000s with trials off Portugal and the UK, but these were hampered by reliability and maintenance issues. However, the current energy crisis and the push for net-zero emissions have reignited interest in wave power, with its potential to provide consistent energy even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing.

10:05

🌐 The Future of Wave Energy: Emerging Markets and Innovations

Wave energy is now finding a foothold in niche markets, such as offshore oil rigs and isolated islands, where its consistent power generation is particularly valuable. The technology is also being considered for integration with offshore wind and solar platforms, as well as in the aquaculture industry. While wave power is not expected to surpass wind or solar energy, it offers a unique contribution to the renewable energy mix. Investments in research and development, along with economies of scale, are expected to reduce costs and improve the viability of wave energy. The future of wave power looks promising, with significant potential for growth and integration into the global energy system.

Keywords

💡Edinburgh Duck

The Edinburgh Duck is an early wave energy device invented by a Scottish professor in 1974. It is a prime example of the innovative but ultimately unsuccessful attempts to harness wave power. The device's name is derived from its duck-like appearance, with a bobbing motion that was intended to convert wave energy into electricity. Despite attracting initial attention, the Edinburgh Duck, like many other wave energy concepts, did not progress beyond the experimental phase, highlighting the challenges in developing practical and efficient wave energy technologies.

💡Wave Power

Wave power refers to the energy captured from ocean surface waves to generate electricity. It is a renewable energy source that has been pursued for centuries, as mentioned in the script. The video discusses the various designs and technologies developed to harness this power, such as point-absorbers, surface attenuators, and oscillating water columns. Wave power is integral to the video's theme, as it represents a consistent and powerful, yet underutilized, energy source that could play a significant role in the future of renewable energy.

💡Point-Absorber

A point-absorber is a type of wave energy converter that floats on the surface and captures energy from waves coming from all directions. It is connected to the sea floor and uses the relative movement between the buoy and the stationary part to drive a piston, which in turn powers a generator. The script mentions this as one of the main designs for capturing wave energy, illustrating the diversity of approaches to harnessing this renewable resource.

💡Surface Attenuator

A surface attenuator is a wave energy device composed of multiple floating segments connected together and aligned perpendicular to incoming waves. The movement of the segments relative to each other powers an energy conversion system. The script uses the example of an attenuator, inspired by the Edinburgh Duck but with a more complex design, to show how modern wave energy technologies are evolving from earlier concepts.

💡Oscillating Water Column

An oscillating water column is a partially submerged, hollow structure that captures wave energy as waves enter and compress or decompress the air column inside. This movement pushes the air through a turbine, which is connected to a generator. This concept is highlighted in the video as one of the main types of wave energy converters, emphasizing the variety of methods being explored to extract energy from ocean waves.

💡Terminator

The terminator is a category of wave energy devices that, like the surface attenuator, are designed to capture energy from waves by having their movement perpendicular to the incoming waves. The Edinburgh Duck is mentioned as belonging to this category, indicating its role in the historical development of wave energy technology.

💡Corrosion-resistant Alloys

Corrosion-resistant alloys, such as certain types of steel, are materials used in the construction of wave energy devices to withstand the corrosive effects of salt water. The script discusses the challenges of deploying devices in the ocean, where salt water can degrade most metals over time, making the use of such alloys crucial for the longevity and reliability of wave energy converters.

💡Energy Crisis

The energy crisis mentioned in the script refers to periods of high demand for energy resources, such as the one following the 1973 oil crisis or the current push for net-zero emissions. These crises have historically prompted the exploration of alternative energy sources, including wave power, as a means to meet energy needs in a sustainable way.

💡Offshore Renewables

Offshore renewables encompass various forms of renewable energy generation that take place in marine environments, such as wind, wave, and tidal power. The video discusses how wave power, in particular, is being reconsidered as part of the solution to the current energy crisis and the transition to a zero-carbon world, especially in contexts where other renewables like solar may not be as effective.

💡Economies of Scale

Economies of scale refer to the cost advantages that a business obtains due to expansion, which applies to the wave power industry as it matures. The script suggests that as more wave energy devices are tested and deployed, the industry will benefit from reduced costs, similar to what has been observed in the wind power sector. This concept is crucial for understanding the potential for wave power to become cost-competitive with other renewable energy sources.

💡Niche Markets

Niche markets are specialized segments of a broader market that have specific needs or characteristics. The script mentions that wave power companies are looking to niche markets, such as offshore oil rigs and islands without grid connections, as potential early adopters of wave energy technology. These markets offer opportunities for wave power to provide a valuable energy source in situations where other renewables may not be as feasible.

Highlights

In 1974, a Scottish professor invented the Edinburgh Duck, an early wave energy device.

The Edinburgh Duck attracted global attention for its potential to generate clean electricity from waves.

Despite the potential, wave energy technology like the Duck did not progress significantly for decades.

Wave power technology is still in development, with over a thousand patents filed, each with different designs.

Waves are complex and multidirectional, unlike wind, which complicates the design of wave energy devices.

Waves form due to wind blowing over the ocean, with size depending on wind strength, duration, and distance over water.

The energy in waves is transferred along the surface, with intensity diminishing at greater depths.

Wave energy devices are diverse, capturing movement at the surface, near the seafloor, and at the coast.

Predicting wave flow is possible with satellite data, aiding in the development of wave energy technology.

There are three main types of wave energy devices: point-absorbers, surface attenuators, and oscillating water columns.

The Edinburgh Duck is a terminator type device, similar to surface attenuators, capturing wave energy through movement.

Wave energy devices face challenges such as corrosive salt water and the need for underwater maintenance.

The nuclear industry and later, wind and solar power, overshadowed wave power due to lower costs and less complexity.

Today's energy crisis and the need for net-zero emissions have reignited interest in wave power.

Wave power is reliable and predictable, with the potential to generate more power per unit space than wind turbines.

Environmental impacts of wave energy devices are relatively low, with most floating with the current and not disturbing marine life.

Investments in wave power are increasing, with success in Australia and significant capacity installations in Europe.

By 2050, wave power could generate 10% of global power, playing a significant role in the renewable energy mix.

Scotland, with its strong winds and swells, is a leading location for wave power testing and innovation.

Mocean Energy is simplifying devices and targeting niche markets, such as offshore oil rigs, for wave power deployment.

Wave power is seen as a complement to offshore wind and solar, with potential for combined renewable energy platforms.

The industry needs support, investment, and time to test and scale up, similar to the path taken by other renewable energies.

Transcripts

In 1974, a Scottish professor invented something

that could have changed the story of energy.

THIS contraption,

called the Edinburgh Duck.

Don't blame me, I didn't name it...

But if you squint really hard you can, sort of, see it...

*quack quack*

Anyway, the duck's butt bobs up and down

with WAVES to generate clean electricity.

It attracted a lot of attention from the UK government

and press around the world.

Because it had huge potential.

Waves are everywhere, consistent and full of power.

But nothing came of it – just like the countless other

sci-fi-looking wave energy devices

invented in the following decades.

Forty years later, we still get only a laughably

small amount of energy from waves globally.

But that might soon change.

"We're going to start seeing this technology

out in the ocean in the next couple of years."

So what's happened to the duck, and all these technologies?

And will wave power ever live up to its potential?

For at least 200 years people have tried to figure out how to harness the ocean's energy.

Over a thousand patents have been filed.

And they all pretty much look different.

Because unlike the wind industry, which has

more or less converged on an optimal design,

the horizontal-axis turbine,

wave power is still in development.

Because waves are complex.

They don't just travel in one direction like the wind –

so you can't just stick a turbine in somewhere.

Let's zoom out a bit to understand.

Waves form when wind blows over the ocean.

Friction between the moving air and the surface

of the water causes ripples that eventually grow to form waves.

The size of waves depends largely on three things:

the strength of the wind,

and how long and far it blows,

unobstructed, over a stretch of water.

Which is why you find the biggest waves and

the best surfing spots along the western coasts of

north and south America, Europe, and parts

of Africa and Australia.

So with waves, it's not that each particle in the water

travels from ocean to coast.

Instead, each one remains almost in the same place,

moving in a circle as it gets energized by the wind.

The energy is then transferred along to the next particle,

and so on.

They move with the most intensity at the surface –

dwindling the deeper you go.

Which kind of explains the sheer diversity of devices

that attempt to capture different kinds of movement:

at the surface,

near the seafloor

and at the coast.

So waves are complex, but we can still predict how they're going to flow.

Satellite data on wind can help understand wave swells days in advance.

There are various basic designs, but here are a few main ones:

A point-absorber:

It floats at the surface and absorbs energy from all directions,

while staying connected to the sea floor.

The relative movement between the buoy

and the stationary part moves a piston inside

into an energy conversion system –

that drives a generator.

A surface attenuator:

which is made of multiple floating segments,

connected together and placed perpendicular to incoming waves.

The relative motion between each segment once again powers an energy conversion system.

And third, the oscillating water column:

a partially submerged, hollow structure.

As waves enter it, they compress

and decompress the air column,

and push it through a turbine, which connects to a generator.

The duck belongs to a category called the terminator,

similar to the surface attenuator.

There are also devices that are attached to the seafloor,

whose up and down or sideways flapping movement

generate electricity through the relative motion.

And still others that are installed closer to the coast where waves crash.

Some of these concepts have existed for centuries.

They all work.

But it's their performance in real-world conditions

over the long-term where the big question mark lies.

"It's an extremely hostile and complex environment

to place anything in the ocean.

And to generate consistently, reliably,

and over a very long period of time,

to generate power from that environment,

is really challenging."

Matthew Hannon researches technology innovation

and has dived deep

into the history of wave power.

By "hostile" he means that salt water is so corrosive

it eats up most metals over time.

And marine creatures begin to use it as a base to live on,

slowly breaking it down.

Corrosion-resistant alloys, like steel, are available

but they're inherently costly.

Underwater devices also need maintenance,

which means divers, boats and platforms.

So even at the testing stage, the investment that wave power needs is incredibly high.

But cost is not the only problem!

Another major one is competition.

The Edinburgh duck was supposed to be a solution to

the energy shortage following the oil crisis in 1973.

But by the time it was ready for testing, the nuclear industry was receiving

so much more attention that the duck lost the race.

"From the late 1980s into the late 1990s,

it was very quiet, very little funding available

and then its renaissance from the advent

of the millennium basically onwards."

This time, two companies tested wave energy devices

off the coasts of Portugal and the UK.

The first was an attenuator.

Inspired by the duck, but with a much more complex design

and set up completely offshore.

The other was a submerged flap,

also offshore.

Both had more reliability issues and required more maintenance

than their manufacturers expected.

And so after months of testing, investors lost interest.

They had to shut up shop.

And like in the first instance with nuclear, this time, wave power was pushed to

the fringes by onshore renewables like wind and solar –

whose prices had fallen by up to three and 10 times respectively in the 2010s.

But similar to the 1970s, we're facing another energy crisis today.

The need to get to net-zero emissions.

Even as the demand for energy is rising.

Estimates predict an average 30% rise in demand by 2045.

And here's where wave power comes back into the game.

On a dark gloomy winter's day,

where the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing,

alternatives – including tidal and especially wave power –

have a big role to play.

Not only are waves predictable, they're reliable.

Waves flow almost consistently all year round.

Wave energy devices can also generate

several times more power

for the space they occupy, compared to wind turbines.

Simply because they are smaller, and water is hundreds of times more dense than air.

Environmentally speaking, some machines could disturb the seafloor habitat

and create noise, and this needs to be considered.

But early indications are that the impact is relatively low.

Since most devices float along with the current anyway, they're unlikely to hit marine mammals.

"So the story continues at this point."

Several devices are now back in the water.

In Australia, a few companies are seeing success.

One array of submerged buoys

even connected a device to a local grid.

The US Navy recently invested $6 million into testing devices off the Hawaiian coast.

And a Japanese professor and his team are trying out a new operating principle –

this time putting small turbines close to the coast.

In 2021, Europe installed three times more capacity

in wave power than the previous year.

Both public and private investments rose significantly,

totalling 70 million euros in both tidal and wave power.

While in theory the potential for waves

is three times today's global demand,

it's estimated that by 2050 wave power will generate 10% of global power, which is a significant share.

The biggest testing facility at the moment, that is arguably showing the most potential, is in Scotland.

The perfect location, with its strong winds,

large swells and history of testing wave devices.

The Scottish government has even created a system of supporting companies

to learn from the mistakes of others.

One company testing at the moment is Mocean energy.

They simplified their devices, and looked to attach them

to existing infrastructure for easier maintenance.

They also looked for niche markets.

"And kind of, ironically, where we ended up was in oil and gas."

It sounds like an oxymoron, but you heard that right.

Oil and gas companies have the money,

the infrastructure

and the need for energy where waves can produce it.

"It was a good economic opportunity.

So we always saw this oil and gas as a good high value market,

but it's also a stepping stone to other markets."

Industry analysts say wave power is behind wind by around 20 years –

and it won't catch up with or replace either wind or solar anytime soon.

But right now, it's alternative markets like offshore oil rigs –

and less problematic ones – that do look promising.

Like islands!

There are around 2,000 islands with less than 100,000 inhabitants that lack grid connection.

And use diesel generators for energy.

As we head towards a zero-carbon world, wave power could be

the perfect resource here, and several companies are looking at various islands already.

Others want to attach devices to platforms

in the aquaculture industry.

"In the longer term, where we see wave energy fitting in,

in terms of the total impact it can have,

is being combined with offshore wind."

Sinn Power in Germany is one company working to attach wave power devices to

offshore wind platforms that also have solar panels.

And the infrastructure for grid connection.

Eco Wave Power in Israel has attached them to breakwaters

and piers that feel the effect

of the most aggressive ocean waves.

At the moment, neither the capacity of installed wave power

nor the cost of the energy it can produce compares to other renewables.

But its value lies in the diversity it can bring to the mix.

To make wave power viable, the industry needs to follow a path similar to other renewables –

with support and investment plus time to test.

As more devices test and produce power, economies of scale will bring down costs

like they did for wind power.

And waves can fill a gap that other renewables cannot.

Do you think wave power's time has finally come?

Let us know in the comments below.

And don't forget to come back every Friday.