Ocean Energy Technologies: Deployment Status, Patents and Outlook
Oceans constitute an immense energy resource, with the potential to cover between 100% and 400% of the world’s annual electricity consumption. Yet the contribution of ocean energy to the global energy mix remains slim for the moment, with the necessary technologies mostly still in their early development and demonstration phases, and very few ready for commercial deployment.
Even though tidal range technologies have been deployed at scale, and wave and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) are approaching maturity, there still remain significant barriers that need to be overcome before the vast potential of ocean energy can be realised.
On 3 June, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) unveiled a range of publications in the field of ocean energy, providing insights into their key findings. The session, held as part of the seventh meeting of the IRENA Council in Abu Dhabi, also provided the opportunity to discuss future IRENA activities related to ocean energy.
With demonstration work underway around the globe, IRENA has developed four technology briefs, reviewing the latest developments in ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), salinity gradient energy, tidal energy and wave energy. The briefs provide insights on technology performance and the state of current projects for turning these energy types into electricity.
Participants also discussed IRENA’s forthcoming overview report on the technology readiness level (TRL) of various ocean energy technologies, including assessments of current status, trends, barriers to enhanced deployment, and patent originations and registrations. The report identifies opportunities and policy needs to increase the share of ocean-based renewables in the global energy mix in the short and medium terms.
Presentation
Linus Mofor, IRENA