Below, we list the potential pros and cons of wave energy.
This guide forms part of a series of guides we have put together outlining the benefits and disadvantages of different energy sources and energy generation methods.
Summary – Pros & Cons Of Wave Energy
Potential Pros
There’s Onshore, & Also Offshore Wave Energy Setup Options
Some Countries Are Currently Using Wave Energy
Doesn’t Emit Greenhouse Gases, Or Release Air Pollutants Whilst In Operation
No Waste By-Products Are Generated During Operation
Is Considered A Renewable Energy Source
May Have Significant Potential For Energy Generation
May Have The Highest Energy Density Amongst Renewable Energy Sources
May Have A High Power To Space Ratio
Can Make Use Of The Ocean Instead Of Using Inland Land Resources
Potential Cons
Might Still Generally Be A Speculative Energy Source That Requires More Development & Testing
May Still Be An Expensive Energy Source In Terms Of Set Up Costs & Capital Costs
Maintenance & Repairs Could Be Challenging & Costly
Lifespan & Durability Of Wave Farms Might Be Uncertain
Waves May Be Unpredictable, & Power Output May Vary
Overall Reliability Of Wave Farms Might Vary
May Have Several Practical Limitations
Impact On Marine Wildlife & Ecosystems Might Be Questionable
For Utility Scales Of Use Only – Not For Individual Or Private Use
Not A Portable Energy Source
General Summary
Wave energy might be in a similar position to tidal energy.
On one hand, it has several sustainability and environmental benefits, and might have a significant amount of potential due to the amount of energy there is in the ocean
However, at this point in time, it might still be a speculative energy source that needs a lot more development before it can be used on larger scales for electricity generation, and before it can become feasible economically
*Note
The pros and cons in this guide are broad generalisations.
Each energy project in each geographic location will have it’s own factors and variables to consider, so, each one will require a separate assessment of it’s individual pros and cons.
The development of technology, as well as other factors might change pros and cons in the future too.
What Is Wave Energy?
Wave energy is an energy source that captures the energy in waves, and converts this energy into electricity
How Wave Energy Works
There are different ways to capture wave energy.
Some devices might sit underneath the surface of the ocean.
efficientgreenpower.com indicates that some methods ‘… use of a floating buoyed device and generate energy through a snaking motion, or by mechanical movement from the waves peaks and troughs’
And, there might be other methods that use a channel or other onshore devices that push water through to a turbine (that generates electricity).
Potential Pros Of Wave Energy
There’s Onshore, & Also Offshore Wave Energy Setup Options
Wave energy converters and wave farms can be installed either onshore, or offshore, in the ocean.
So, there’s multiple options in terms of setup locations, and each setup might offer slightly different capabilities.
Some Countries Are Currently Using Wave Energy
For example, efficientgreenpower.com mentions that (paraphrased) wave farms are in use in Europe, whilst weforum.org mentions that the UK has notable installed capacity, and there’s also other countries with installed capacity at this point in time
Doesn’t Emit Greenhouse Gases, Or Release Air Pollutants Whilst In Operation
Without the use of fuel for equipment like pumps, wave energy doesn’t emit greenhouse gases or release air pollutants whilst in operation.
Wave energy has one of the lowest emissions footprints of all energy sources
No Waste By-Products Are Generated During Operation
Wave energy has no waste by-products that are generated during operation.
This is unlike coal for example that has traditionally produced waste by-products like fly ash, or nuclear energy with nuclear waste
Is Considered A Renewable Energy Source
Waves are created from wind when wind blows across the ocean’s surface
And, wind originates from the sun and heat
Several estimates indicate that the Sun will last at least another 5 billion years, so, in theory, waves will be around for somewhere around that length of time too
This would make waves renewable, and wave energy a renewable energy source
This is unlike fossil fuels for example which are generally seen as finite resources
May Have Significant Potential For Energy Generation
Below are several different metrics that might illustrate the energy potential contained in onshore and offshore waves.
– Potential To Meet The World’s Electricity Needs
Some estimates by scientists indicate that if global wave energy was captured, there would be enough electricity generated from this energy to meet the world’s electricity needs.
– Total Wave Resources Reaching Shorelines Worldwide
Multiple reports indicate that the global potential of wave energy is estimated to be around 2 TW.
This is based estimations made from the total wave resources that are reaching shorelines worldwide.
– Energy Contained In The Average Wave
The average wave (in terms of height or width, and also duration) can provide a notable amount of energy
oceanenergycouncil.com has information/data on the amount of horsepower in the average 4 foot, 10 second wave in their report
– Energy Contained Specifically In Offshore Waves
Some reports also indicate that the further you go offshore, the more energy each wave can provide
One report indicates that offshore waves might have up to 2.5 to 3 times as much energy, or more, as an average wave
Specifically for the United States, eia.gov also indicates that:
‘The theoretical annual energy potential of waves off the coasts of the United States is estimated to be … the equivalent of about 64% of total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation in 2021. ‘
Obviously, realising this amount of energy would provide a tremendous amount of electricity on a utility scale.
But, fully harnessing and capturing the energy might have challenges at this point in time.
May Have The Highest Energy Density Amongst Renewable Energy Sources
Part of the reason for this might be that some reports indicate that ‘water has 1000 times higher density than air’
May Have A High Power To Space Ratio
This is essentially a measure of the amount of power an energy source can generate per square area of land or water that it takes up.
Multiple different reports available online indicate that:
A wave farm … occupying less than a half square mile of an ocean would generate more than 30 MW of power … [which is] the equivalent of 20,000 British homes
This might be a considerable power to space ratio, especially considering how much ocean there is.
Can Make Use Of The Ocean Instead Of Using Inland Land Resources
Wave energy has a similar benefit that both offshore wind and hydroelectricity energy sources have – it can make use of water bodies (like the ocean), and doesn’t need to be installed on inland resources.
This might be beneficial for land scarce regions, or regions that face issues installing other energy sources.
We wrote more about the land footprint of different energy sources in a separate guide.
Potential Cons of Wave Energy
Might Still Generally Be A Speculative Energy Source That Requires More Development & Testing
Wave energy hasn’t been developed, and hasn’t been used for electricity production and consumption to anywhere near the extent that other energy sources have across many countries in the world yet.
Many countries appear to still be in the development and testing stage for wave energy – weforum.org explains this in more detail
At most, current installed capacity for wave energy might be for niche applications, that eventually gives way to larger scale wave energy farms
Additional policy support, more funding, research and development, and more real world demonstration and results might be needed before wave energy can expand and scale up.
May Still Be An Expensive Energy Source In Terms Of Set Up Costs & Capital Costs
Although costs might vary, wave energy might still be an expensive energy source right now in terms of capital costs and set up costs (and even operation costs), compared to the electricity generated.
Additionally, offshore wind farms that are installed further out or deeper in the ocean may be more costly than onshore wind farms too.
Building and operating wave energy plants is generally expensive (weforum.org)
Maintenance & Repairs Could Be Challenging & Costly
Marine environments can present unique issues relating to ocean forces, salt water, and accessing underwater equipment.
Therefore, maintaining a wave energy system might be challenging in some ways, and might be costly in some ways too.
This may depend in some way too though on the regularity with which wave energy farms need to be maintained.
Repairs may also sometimes have their challenges.
Lifespan & Durability Of Wave Farms Might Be Uncertain
At this point in time, there might not be enough data to indicate how long a larger scale wave energy farm might last in terms of it’s operation lifespan.
Durability is obviously something to consider before investing significant money into the technology.
Waves May Be Unpredictable, & Power Output May Vary
Some reports indicate that several factors might make wave energy unpredictable, and might impact how consistent the power output from a wave farm is.
Those factors might include:
– The unpredictability of some parts of the ocean
– Varying wave patterns and direction
– Varying wave intensity year to year, and season to season (which impacts the amount of energy in the waves)
Winter is usually a better season for waves for example.
Overall Reliability Of Wave Farms Might Vary
Depending on where the wave farm is installed, wave farms might vary with their reliability.
Some might be less reliable than others across indicators such as how regularly they need to be maintained or repaired, how consistent their power output is, and so on.
May Have Several Practical Limitations
Including but not limited to:
– Wave farms may only be suitable in coastal locations
Unless there is a way for energy generated at wave farms to be transported inland to populations without direct access to a coastline, wave farms may only be suitable for coastline locations and populations
– Limited areas/spots that are suitable to situate onshore wave farms
Several factors have to be taken into account to make sure the onshore area is suitable, and the project will be feasible and practical
Impact On Marine Wildlife & Ecosystems Might Be Questionable
There might be uncertainty about how each wave energy device or wave farm impacts marine wildlife and ecosystems.
Some may be far less damaging than others.
More data might be needed on this to get a solid conclusion on the exact impact.
For Utility Scales Of Use Only – Not For Individual Or Private Use
Wave energy is for utility scale energy capture and electricity generation only
It isn’t installed on private property, or used by individuals, like solar energy or wind energy can be
Not A Portable Energy Source
Other energy sources like solar energy (using solar panels for example) are more portable sources of energy than wave energy
Sources
1. http://energyinformative.org/wave-energy-pros-and-cons/
2. http://efficientgreenpower.com/wave-energy
3. https://www.renewableresourcescoalition.org/alternative-energy-sources/
4. https://www.oceanenergycouncil.com/ocean-energy/wave-energy/
5. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/hydropower/wave-power.php
6. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/03/wave-energy-ocean-electricity-renewables/
','' ); } ?>