Ocean wave power

Abstract

The wave energy arriving on the west coast of the United Kingdom represents a very substantial energy resource, amounting on average to more than twice the present installed capacity of the Central Electricity Generating Board. Recent comprehensive studies by the CEGB 1,2 and the National Engineering Laboratory 3 suggest that although there is no obvious technical reason for being unable ultimately to harness much of this energy, and many methods have been proposed, there are still considerable uncertainties over the choice of wave power system and its economics. Wave power does show sufficient promise however to have been made the subject of serious studies supported by the CEGB and the Department of Energy. 4 In this paper the potential of wave power and some of the more promising methods of harnessing it are discussed, together with an appreciation of some of the many technical and engineering problems which still need to be examined, and a discussion of the impact of wave power on the environment. By considering the results of recent research and their impact on wave power economics it is argued that wave power could be exploited to conserve fossil fuels, but is unlikely to be competitive with nuclear power.