Concept in Wave Energy
I just received a note from a reader, asking me to check out his concept in wave energy. As a prelude, he offered the video below, which examines the validity of the overall concept of extracting energy from the motion of ocean waves.
The video is well made, and it’s very fair in its treatment of the subject. In essence, there are inescapable issues with survivability and interference with aquatic life, fishing, and ocean transportation. There are also, obviously, issues of cost. A wave energy proponent and professor of engineering at Oregon State claims that the cost per KWh will come down as scale increases; she bases this on the economies of scale that wind energy achieved. Her claim is correct, with the proviso that such scale actually takes place, which it won’t, which, ironically, is in part because wind has already achieved such scale. Few people are interested in absorbing the expense developing of wave energy when PPAs for wind are being sold at $0.02/KWh.
Craig,
Have you become a lobbyist for one of the giant multi-national Turbine manufacturers, or Warren Buffett ?
This is the forth article you’ve written about the lack of viability of wave power technology.
You seem fixated on Wind Power.
You are correct in criticizing wave power technology as being one of a suite of potential energy providers with limited practical availability.
What is less explicable as your total unwillingness to accept the much great impact of mitigation technologies. Mitigation works ! It solves problems with demonstrable economic environmental benefits. As an environmentalist, you should be celebrating these achievements.
So why not ? Are you afraid mitigation technologies may harm the interests of “wind Power” corporations, or are you afraid you may have to alter your long held beliefs ?
Maybe it’s because practical solutions such as offered by CarbonCure’s concrete technology don’t fit into your dreams of social revolution ? But if that’s the case, I doubt whether you will find GE,Siemens Gamesa, Enercon,Elecon, or China’s United Wind Power (China Guodian Corporation)CNR, CSIC (HZ Wind Power), more altruistic.
Recently, I attended a conference on recycling. The figures were very depressing. Technology such as lithium-ion batteries, (which should really be called Cobalt batteries) so important to energy storage, yet only a tiny fraction are recycled (less than 3% ) while other technologies such as solar panels are pollutant time bombs awaiting the next generation.
These problems should be priorities for environmentalists, instead support has dwindled with apathy.
Craig,
A couple of points:
First: The LCOE of wave energy is highly uncertain. We simply do not know enough to give a valid expected longevity and maintenance cost assessment for such an installation. The mechanisms are simple, but they are perpetually immersed in salt water… so everyone has a guess, but that’s all they can offer. There will be no major investment in large projects until that guess is no longer a guess.
Second: Offshore wind is still more expensive than onshore wind, significantly so. I could be persuaded that at some point in the future – once the longevity and maintenance issues are fully characterized – the LCOE for wave may yet be cheaper than offshore wind. I’m not opposed to further research in that area… I’m just not going to invest in an unknown quantity when a known quantity is available to be invested in that has known and certain returns. Wave energy is going to face that for quite some time… but again that’s not a reason to oppose further research. It’s just saying that “right now, this is not the way that any investor should be expected to choose, and we don’t have enough data to suggest that an investor should be incentivized to choose this route instead of the known carbon-neutral offshore generation technology.”
Third: Once in my life, I have had the great pleasure to go to Manuel Antonio. Rochelle and I went on a tour of Costa Rica on our honeymoon. The beauty of that little country is unimaginable and indescribable.