Clean renewable energy - Wave energy

Wave energy is a specific form of ocean energy, and it is also one of the most important energy sources in ocean energy. Wave energy refers to the kinetic energy and potential energy of the ocean surface waves, and its power generation principle is to convert the kinetic energy and potential energy of water into mechanical energy to drive the generator to generate electricity.

Driven by the "double carbon" goal, clean energy has gradually become the mainstream direction of future development of energy. As a kind of renewable energy contained in the ocean, wave energy has the advantages of renewability and green environmental protection.

The principle of wave power generation

The wave energy power generation device has various forms, but the general principle is basically the same, that is, the wave energy is absorbed by the wave energy capture device, and then the wave energy is converted into stable output mechanical energy by the transmission mechanism, and then the mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy by the power generation device.

There are many kinds of wave energy generation methods, according to different forms of energy conversion into mechanical power generation, pneumatic power generation and hydraulic power generation.

Mechanical: Through a transmission mechanism to achieve the wave energy from the reciprocating movement to the one-way rotation movement to drive the generator to generate electricity.

Pneumatic: Through the air chamber, air bag and other pumping device to convert wave energy into air energy, and then driven by the gas turbine generator to generate electricity.

Hydraulic: The method of converting wave energy into pressure energy or potential energy of liquid (oil or seawater) through some kind of pumping liquid device, and then the oil pressure motor or water turbine drives the generator to generate electricity.

Advantages and disadvantages of wave energy

Wave energy is a kind of clean renewable energy, and its development and utilization is very important to alleviate the energy crisis and reduce carbon emissions. The main advantages and disadvantages of wave energy are:

advantage

Clean and renewable

High energy density, wide distribution, easy to use directly, inexhaustible

It prevents land damage and provides electricity to the island

shortcoming

Low efficiency, generally through three levels of energy conversion can be converted into electricity, the process of high energy loss

Instability, waves do not exist continuously and steadily, sometimes large and sometimes small

Since the wave energy power generation device needs to be in the ocean, the corrosion resistance and stability of the device materials are required to be high

The cost is high, higher than the cost of wind and solar power

Occupy Marine space, and may affect Marine ecology in serious cases

Development status of wave power generation in China

The technology of wave energy utilization in our country is not mature, and it is still in the stage of sea state demonstration research. In June 2020, the construction of Weihai Shallow Sea Marine Comprehensive Experimental Field in Shandong Province and Wanshan Wave Energy Experimental Field in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province was completed, and the first Eagle wave energy power generation device "Zhoushan" with an installed power of 500kW was officially delivered, which is currently the largest single installed power wave energy power generation device in China. In June this year, the construction of the megawatt wave energy generation platform was officially started in Dongguan, achieving the grid-connected demonstration on the islands and reefs in the far sea, and building a new power system demonstration island with wave energy as the main power source.