Why Marine Renewable Energy in our ocean?
Clean energy is an important priority on the West Coast, as reflected in the renewable energy targets of our states.
- Washington: 100% clean electricity by 2045 (Clean Energy Transformation Act, 2019)
- Oregon: 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from electricity sold to Oregon customers by 2040 (Clean Energy Targets bill)
- California: 100% clean electricity by 2045, with interim targets such as 60% renewable energy by 2030 (CA-SB 100)
Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) development can play a vital role in meeting those renewable energy targets by using technologies that convert ocean wind and waves into electricity.
The prospect of MRE development is a relatively new consideration on the West Coast. Planning for MRE will require developers, regulators, and stakeholders to consider a tremendous amount of information about the ocean and how we use it, and to understand the context of proposed development areas.
The West Coast Ocean Data Portal (WCODP) is a gateway for physical, biological, and human use data from providers across the region. The WCODP and its network of data providers and users will provide crucial resources for MRE planning.
Photo Credit: By Ocean Power Technologies
Where's a New Ocean Industry to Go?
The Pacific Ocean is an ecologically rich and busy place. So where is a new industry to go?
That is a complicated question that MRE developers, ocean managers, and ocean stakeholders must answer as we collectively consider new ways to use the ocean.
The planning, siting, and management of MRE installations depend on our knowledge of the ocean, including its natural resources and wide spectrum of human uses. Even knowing what we don’t know--where there are data gaps--can be helpful. For example, knowledge of data gaps can help marine managers plan survey and monitoring efforts.
Generally, the first step is to examine where the winds and waves are suitable for energy development.
The expansion of offshore renewable energy introduces new considerations for ocean management. Potential project sites may overlap with:
- Commercial and recreational fishing grounds
- Shipping lanes and navigation routes
- Tribal and cultural resources
- Sensitive marine habitats
West Coast Waves: Energy from the Motion of the Ocean?
Where there are good winds, there are good waves. Our West Coast waves are not only excellent for surfing, they are also a potential source of power. The marine hydrokinetic (MHK) industry has developed devices that produce electricity from the movement of the waves.
As you might expect, big waves that are close together have more energy than small waves that are far apart. This energy can be represented by Wave Power Density, expressed in kilowatts per meter of wave crest (kw/m).
As early as the 1870s, innovators in California were developing wave energy devices (Source: outsidelands.org). Since those early days of MHK invention, a fascinating variety of wave energy technologies have been pioneered. However, the modern MHK industry is still in a testing stage with no large-scale commercial projects planned just yet.
