Ocean Energy

The oceans cover 71% of the earth’s surface and approximately 3 billion people live within 200 km off the coast. Ocean Energy has vast potential for the delivery of power, drinking water, and other products to coastal markets. The International Energy Agency envisions Ocean Energy will have an installed capacity of 750 GW by 2050.

The aim of the TU Delft Ocean Energy platform is to stimulate research and education in ocean energies at Delft University of Technology. The steering group develops a joint research agenda, pursues funding opportunities, stimulates internal knowledge exchange, and takes care of external communication about ocean energy at Delft University. There are various types of ocean energy technologies that can exploit the potential contained in our seas, such as Wave Energy, Tidal/Current Energy, and Thermal Gradient (OTEC)

Website: https://www.tudelft.nl/en/ocean-energy

Wave Energy

With an estimated worldwide potential in the order of 1000-1500 TWh/year, waves are amongst the highest energy dense renewable resource. Waves are a result of wind and ocean interactions, that lead to generation of local waves which tent to be amplified as they propagate. Wave energy has the advantage of being predictable and less volatile compared to some of the other renewable energy sources.

Wave Energy: https://youtu.be/WToY7tzdHCE

Tidal/Current Energy

With a worldwide potential of more than 150 GW, tidal flows provide a consistent source of kinetic energy as a result of the interaction between the gravitational forces of the Earth-Moon-Sun system. Tidal energy technologies have the advantage of being highly predictable and could therefore provide a stable output to the grid, compared to other ocean energy technologies and renewable energy sources.

Tidal Stream/Current: https://youtu.be/VkTRcTyDSyk

Tidal Range: https://youtu.be/sLIHQ-2TbvA

Thermal Gradient (OTEC)

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a renewable energy technology that uses the natural temperature difference in oceans to produce clean, reliable electricity, day and night, year-round.

OTEC: https://youtu.be/FHBVgRWAt3c