Wave Energy, Definition, Process, Advantages & Disadvantages

Wave Energy, Definition, Process, Diagram, Advantages & Disadvantages

Wave energy is derived from the up-and-down motion of ocean waves. Know about Wave Energy, its Definition, Examples, Advantages & Disadvantages in this article for UPSC exam.

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Wave Energy

Wave energy is the movement of waves in the ocean which is in the form of kinetic energy. Waves are created by winds blowing over the ocean’s surface. This energy can be used to run turbines. There are many places where strong winds create continuous waves, providing a lot of energy. Wave energy is captured just below the surface of the waves or from changes in pressure below the surface. This energy can drive a turbine as the wave rises in a chamber, the water’s power pushes air out of the chamber, and this moving air drives the turbine, which then powers a generator.

According to estimates, the world’s total wave resource could contain up to 2 terawatts (TW) of energy, which is equal to all the power used worldwide. Over 40% of the world’s energy needs or the output of over 800 nuclear power plants may be met by wave energy if it is adequately exploited. You will learn about Wave Energy in this article, which will aid you while you study the Environment Syllabus for the UPSC Civil Service exam.

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What is Wave Energy?

Wave energy is the energy from ocean waves. This energy can be used to make electricity, clean water, and pump water. Wave energy is the biggest ocean energy resource and is renewable. When the wind blows over the ocean, it gives energy to the waves. These waves are very powerful. The energy from waves is measured by their height, speed, length, and the water’s density. Stronger waves can produce more electricity. However, there aren’t many wave power plants because they are hard to build and use.

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Wave Energy Presence

Wave energy is most common in Asia and Australia. It is also found in South and North America. Western and Northern Europe have a lot of wave energy. Central America, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Atlantic Archipelagos have less wave energy because of their location. Other renewable energy sources from ocean water movement include tidal energy, ocean current energy, salinity gradient energy, and ocean thermal gradient energy. All of these can be used to produce electricity.

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How is Wave Energy Converted into Electricity?

Wave energy hitting the coast is turned into electricity by a wave energy converter (WEC), which works like a power plant.
Strong sea waves enter and exit a sealed compartment through a hole at the bottom.
As the water level rises and falls with the waves, air is pushed through turbines at the top of the chamber.
Both compressed and uncompressed air can power the turbines.
The air moves the turbine in the same direction, back and forth.
The moving turbine turns a shaft connected to a generator, producing electricity.

Power is produced by the generator and then distributed to electrical grids, demand centres, and distribution lines that link individual residences and commercial establishments. The benefit of this wave energy converter is that it can generate airflow from even the smallest wave motions, which will keep the turbine spinning and produce energy.

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India’s Potential for Wave Energy

India’s 7517 kilometer coastline, with its estuaries and gulfs is ideal for marine energy projects. Wave energy potential in India is between 40 and 60 GW. Ocean energy technologies like wave and tidal are still developing in India. A study by IIT Madras and CRISIL found the western coast has more wind potential than the eastern coast.

Potential wave power areas on India’s west coast include Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala. Kanyakumari, near the southern tip, has the most power due to refraction and strong winds.

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Wave Energy Advantages

1. Highly Predictable

Waves come in a predictable pattern. They store more energy than wind and sun, and they come day and night.

2. Renewable Energy

Wave energy is a renewable resource, so it is always available. It does not need help from people to exist. Humans can use it forever. This makes wave energy a reliable and efficient energy source.

3. Environmentally Friendly

Since wave energy does not release any damaging greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, it is a completely clean energy source.

4. Employment Generation

Wave power can reach places without regular electricity. It can create many eco-friendly jobs for people in both remote and city areas.

5. Beneficial for Remote Areas

Wave energy can be collected and sent to distant places. This can help new industries and businesses grow quickly. Rural areas will see big economic growth in the future.

6. Reliable

Building a strong wave energy system can reduce a country’s reliance on fossil fuels and make its energy supply more secure. Wave energy is cheap, reliable, and efficient, making it a great way to solve energy problems.

7. Unharmed

Offshore wave energy plants can be built, avoiding problems like soil pollution from onshore plants. The land stays natural, unlike fossil fuel extraction, which needs a lot of digging and harms the environment.

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Wave Energy Disadvantages

The disadvantages associated with wave energy are as follows:

1. High Initial Capital Expenses

Building wave energy plants need a lot of money. Issues like maintenance, connecting to the grid, wave resources, and how long the technology lasts make wave energy expensive. It is also hard to know the exact cost because wave energy is still new.

2. Deficiency of the Equipment

The size of ocean waves is very unpredictable. Sometimes, big waves can hit hard and damage the turbines that produce wave energy. Fixing this equipment can be costly and would also stop the electricity supply.

3. Impact on Aquatic Ecosystem

Shallow oceans are key for marine life to rest and breed. Building wave plants can harm the marine ecosystem. Leaks or spills from these plants can contaminate water and kill marine life

4. Locational Problems

Wave energy is limited by location. It benefits people near oceans and seas but can not power everyone. Towns, cities, and countries far from water will not get its advantages.

5. Noise Pollution

Wave energy is clean, but plant generators can be noisy and affect the ocean’s beauty. However, wave noise usually balances out the generator noise.

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Wave Energy UPSC

The fact that most wave energy systems are small and insufficient to power large buildings or structures is one of the biggest obstacles to wave energy. Another problem with wave energy is that the amount of energy that may be produced depends on the magnitude of the waves at any given time, just like with solar or wind energy. Wave height, wave speed, wavelength, and wave density are some of the unpredictable factors that have an impact on wave energy. As technology develops, experts are exploring novel ways to generate more electricity from ocean waves.

However, when weighing the advantages and disadvantages of wave energy, the advantages clearly exceed the disadvantages, particularly in this day and age when everyone is focusing on renewable energy sources.

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FAQs

How does wave energy works?

The up-and-down movement of floating objects positioned on the ocean's surface generates wave power. In other words, the wind creates waves, which then create energy. Modern technology uses the natural motions of water currents and swells to generate power as the waves move over the ocean.

How is wave energy generated?

Floating turbine platforms or buoys that rise and fall with the waves are commonly used to generate wave power. Wave power can, however, be produced by taking advantage of variations in air pressure that take place in wave capture chambers that face the sea or variations in wave pressure on the ocean floor.

Why is wave energy useful?

Wave energy has enormous potential because a single wave has an enormous amount of energy because it is so densely packed. If we are successful in utilising wave energy, we may be able to meet over 40% of the world's energy requirements, which is equivalent to the production of over 800 nuclear plants.

What is the principle of wave energy?

The sea surface is put under tangential stress by air passing over it, which causes waves to start and grow. The airflow that is turbulent close to the water's surface causes pressure changes and shear forces that change quickly.

What are the properties of wave energy?

Whether you're discussing waves or vibrations, all of them may be classified according to the following four factors: amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and speed.