Ocean-Based Renewable Energy
- Christian Saravia
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
By Christian Saravia
The ocean is consistently moving, carrying an immense and untapped source of clean power with it. Waves rise and fall, tides shift with the pull of the moon, and winds sweep steadily across open water. Harnessing this energy could help cut hundreds of millions of tons of carbon emissions, provide reliable power to coastal and remote communities, and play a vital role in the fight against climate change. Ocean-based renewable energy stands among the largest untapped resources in the world, with its potential only beginning to be realized.
The Basics of Ocean Energy
Ocean energy refers to renewable power generated from the natural movements and conditions of the sea. While there are several types of ocean energy, the most common ones include:
Wave Energy: Wind energy captures the up and down motion of surface waves using devices that convert it into electricity.
Tidal Energy: Tidal energy harnesses predictable tidal currents caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. Turbines or barrages placed in tidal areas convert water movement into power.
Offshore Wind Energy: Offshore wind energy generates electricity from wind turbines anchored in coastal waters, where wind speeds are often higher and more consistent than on land.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC): Ocean thermal energy conversion uses temperature differences between surface water and cold deep water to drive a heat engine that produces electricity.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), ocean energy is the largest untapped renewable energy resource in the world. This means it holds a large potential to provide clean, sustainable power without the greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuels.
When compared to solar and land-based wind, ocean energy offers unique benefits:
Wave and tidal energy are often more predictable than wind or solar, allowing for more reliable power generation
Offshore wind turbines can capture stronger, steadier winds than their onshore counterparts
Ocean energy can often be developed closer to coastal population centers, reducing transmission costs
The important takeaway is that ocean energy has the potential to become a major contributor to a clean energy future, which complements other renewable sources by providing consistency, scale, and geographic diversity.
Environmental and Community Benefits
Ocean-based renewable energy provides significant advantages for the planet and for those who depend on reliable power sources. By replacing fossil fuels, these technologies have the potential to cut as much as 500 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, which directly helps slow climate change and protects ecosystems.
For coastal and remote communities, ocean energy is especially valuable. Many coastal and remote areas face high energy costs or depend on imported fuels. Ocean-based renewable energy offers a local, stable, and cleaner alternative, which reduces dependency on external resources, unlike solar or wind, which can sometimes be inconsistent due to weather. Wave and tidal energy offer a more reliable and predictable supply. This consistent form of energy provides and strengthens community resilience while also lowering greenhouse gas emissions and improving public health through cleaner air.
Environmental Considerations and Challenges
Ocean-based renewable energy is promising, but not perfect. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has pointed out that to fully understand how technologies like wave, tidal, and floating offshore wind systems interact with marine ecosystems, more research is needed. In other words, scientists and policymakers need to evaluate potential risks before scaling up these systems.
One major concern is how renewable devices might affect wildlife. For example, underwater turbines could alter migration routes for marine mammals or fish, while the noise from construction and operation could disrupt species that rely on echolocation. Anchoring floating platforms could also potentially disturb sensitive seafloor habitats. These challenges may not be impossible to overcome, but they certainly underscore the importance of balance between ecology and innovation.
It’s important to run tests and pilot projects before deployment on a large scale. Trials on a smaller scale help by providing data on how devices perform in real conditions and how they interact with local ecosystems. This approach helps by ensuring that renewable energy devices will strengthen ocean health as opposed to harming it. Careful planning and rigorous environmental monitoring will ultimately determine whether or not these technologies can become a sustainable part of clean energy.
Examples
Ocean-based renewable energy might sound like something futuristic, but the reality is that it’s already being utilized in the world. One example is Orkney, Scotland, where marine energy is being tested and actively contributing to the local grid.
The European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney is the world’s leading facility for wave and tidal energy testing. Since its founding in 2004, it’s hosted a wide range of prototypes designed to harness the ocean’s power. One exceptional innovation is Orbital Marine Power’s O2 turbine, which is a 2-megawatt floating tidal device that’s been able to successfully deliver power to the grid. This device supports the generation of green hydrogen onsite, which shows us what ocean energy can really do for us.
Another fascinating innovation in the region is the MeyGen project, which currently operates four seabed-mounted turbines. Together, they produce around 6 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to power thousands of homes. The MeyGen project intends to expand in the future and is aiming to produce around 400 megawatts, which shows how scalable and efficient tidal energy can be. Orkney regularly generates more electricity from renewables than it consumes due to how successful the energy output is.
Across the Atlantic, the US is also considering utilizing ocean energy. In Oregon, the PacWave test site, developed by Oregon State University, is preparing to become the nation’s first grid-connected wave energy test facility. The project has received a major boost through a $25 million investment from the US Department of Energy, showing the growing federal interest in marine-based power solutions.
However, there have been challenges along the way. For example, one wave energy startup, AquaHarmonics, was selected for a testing opportunity but was shut down due to a lack of federal funding. This obstacle definitely highlights how important long-term financial and policy support is for facilities in order to test these technologies.
Despite challenges, there is still hope. The federal government has recently announced over $112 million in funding to continue developing wave energy designs and infrastructure. Even though the industry is still in its early stages in the US, Oregon’s progress shows the rest of the country that this kind of innovation is certainly possible.
From the coastlines of Scotland to the Pacific shores of Oregon, these examples illustrate that ocean energy is more than just a speculative concept. It’s scalable, evolving, and gaining the kind of attention that can help us transition to clean energy globally.
The Road Ahead
Looking ahead, ocean energy has the potential to play a large role in creating a cleaner, emissions-free future. With the power of tides, currents, and waves, this resource could become a cornerstone of clean energy by supporting the grid while simultaneously reducing emissions and protecting the planet.
Because innovation is a collective effort, it’s important to advocate for continued investment in ocean technologies. Along with smart policy, public awareness, and collaborative efforts, these solutions become much more successful.
The path forward isn’t without challenges, but it’s also filled with possibilities and promise. With each breakthrough, we can move closer to a future where we can utilize renewable power from the ocean.
Citations
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