5.19 Energy Management in Ocean Energy Systems

Abstract

The environmental movements highly emphasize on the use and development of sustainable energy. Most of the renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and ocean, are sustainable, i.e., we can utilize them to generate electricity without putting them into danger of getting vanished or depleted from the surface of Earth. Moreover, they are available in bulk quantity in every part of the world, unlike fossil fuel; of which reserves are not available everywhere. Sustainable energy can be defined as a form of energy that can be utilized again and again without putting a source in danger of getting depleted, expired, or vanished. The used and development of clean sustainable energy are widely encouraged as it do not harm our environment and is available all around us free of cost. All renewable sources like ocean, wind, and solar are sustainable energy sources due to the fact that they are stable and available worldwide. The Earth has been blessed with enormous amount of water in the form of oceans or seas. About 70% of Earth is covered with oceans, which is the reason that it seems to be blue from outer space and said to be as “Blue Planet.” Oceans and seas around us have the potential to fulfill all of our current energy demands by providing a clean energy in a bulk quantity; which can be harnessed in number of ways and forms: by exploiting the kinetic energy of waves, the streams of tides and ocean current, and by the temperature gradient present in water. This chapter discusses various methods and technologies introduced to harness this all important form of energy from ocean along with its significance, application, advantages, and disadvantages .