Renewable energy sources on the rise leverage the power of the ocean–namely wave and tidal energy and can play an important, complementary role in meeting our energy needs and supporting the planet.
When you think of clean energy solutions, chances are solar panels and wind turbines spring to mind. And with good reason: these are indeed some of the most developed renewable energy solutions, with great potential to support the world’s energy needs.
Yet there are other renewable energy sources on the rise that leverage the power of the ocean–namely wave and tidal energy–that can play an important, complementary role in meeting our energy needs and supporting the planet. Now is the time to jumpstart their development in the U.S. in order to leverage their benefits for conservation, energy independence, and security. The repetitive, forceful nature of waves and tides makes them valuable renewable energy sources. Wave and tidal energy converters capture this kinetic energy of the ocean and are able to convert it into electricity or power devices such as vessel charging stations or scientific buoys. Because waves and tides are so predictable, even more so than wind or sunshine, wave and tidal energy can be forecasted far in advance, helping to balance energy demand and reduce battery storage needs.
While single devices developed today have an electricity generation capacity of up to 2 megawatts, in aggregate, we know that these clean energy sources hold tremendous possibilities: the total technical potential for wave and tidal energy in the U.S. is estimated to be 1,620 terawatt hours (TWh)/year, enough energy to support nearly 40% of the country’s total electricity use.
And we know we must transition to clean energy. Since the Industrial Revolution, the ocean has absorbed more than 90% of the heat produced from burning oil and gas, causing ocean waters to warm and become more acidic; driving sea level rise; and causing habitat degradation, coral bleaching, and species migration. The best path forward for a healthy ocean–one which supports fisheries, communities, and conservation goals alike–is to phase out fossil fuels and shift to a mix of clean renewable energy sources, including wave and tidal energy.
In addition to helping protect the future of our ocean ecosystems, wave and tidal energy are uniquely positioned to support remote places and activities.
Consider remote-island and small coastal communities. Due to the distance of these communities from larger population centers and infrastructure, most have no other option but to import fossil fuels for electricity, which can lead to energy prices up to 10 times the U.S. average. These communities are also particularly vulnerable to global market shocks and supply disruptions which can further exacerbate energy costs. Many of these rural coastline and island communities seek to improve their energy independence, reduce costs, and lower carbon emissions, while keeping their way of life intact.
Dominant clean energy sources, such as solar and wind, are not necessarily viable or cost effective for remote and small communities given land availability, sun or wind resources, and electricity infrastructure. Wave and tidal devices can provide these communities with the right-sized clean energy solution to meet their needs. More importantly, wave and tidal devices give these communities the ability to generate their own, controlled, localized energy, building needed energy independence and resiliency against larger global forces while protecting their local budgets.
Furthermore, the U.S. defense industry considers wave and tidal energy uniquely positioned to support defense operations in remote locations, to reduce its vulnerabilities from geopolitical supply chain disruptions and fluctuating prices while building energy resilience. For example, one of the only U.S. wave energy test sites, the Navy Wave Energy Test Site, is located off the coast of the Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The Navy site has been testing wave energy devices for more than 10 years, including marine devices designed to resemble buoys that can power or charge remote underwater vehicles.
Remote and island communities in the U.S. are also beginning to explore this kind of energy. While no domestic commercial wave or tidal projects exist, the Native Alaskan Village of Igiugig has deployed a river hydrokinetic project—which operates similarly to tidal energy devices. The device has been a great pride to the village, lowering energy costs and increasing energy reliance, so much so that the village has deployed a second device. Two other communities in the San Juan Islands in Washington State and Cook Inlet, Alaska are investing in piloting tidal energy devices, thanks to grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy‘s Water Power Technologies Office (DOE WPTO).
Despite this exploration, the overall wave and tidal industry in the U.S. is in its early stages. European countries have advanced the majority of wave and tidal demonstration projects and have devices that are actively sending energy to the grid. In the U.S., funding and permitting challenges have stymied deployment and commercialization. For marine renewable energy to responsibly get off the ground, federal leaders need to increase support.
First, Congress should direct federal and state government agencies, such as the DOE WPTO, to provide robust, predictable funding and financial incentives across fiscal years for development and deployment of wave and tidal energy pilot and demonstration devices. Congress appropriates funds each year for marine renewable energy, and this added future assurance can help attract private investors, opening the door to millions of dollars to move technologies from early stages to long-term development.
Second, Congress can allocate funds for much needed environmental monitoring and analysis to ensure devices are developed responsibly for the ocean and ecosystems. This supports the scientific understanding of environmental effects, gleaning the most information from every device deployment. Through early and ongoing monitoring, best practices to avoid, minimize, and mitigate significant impacts can be implemented before deployments increase in size and scale.
Finally, federal and state agencies should require non-proprietary data and knowledge sharing among those in the industry and the public. Congress can mandate this as a federal funding requirement. This can help to build better understanding of the benefits of wave and tidal energy, accelerate technology development, assist in implementing environmental mitigation measures, and build confidence that these technologies can responsibly coexist with current ocean uses and ecosystems.
Wave and tidal energy solutions can provide critical support for local communities, for conservation, and for security. Together, we can chart a course to bring these technologies to Americans who need them the most.
By Ryan Ono, Climate Policy Manager, Ocean Conservancy
Ryan Ono has been a Climate Policy Manager at Ocean Conservancy since 2020 and now works on U.S marine renewable energy, offshore wind and ocean carbon dioxide removal policy. He collaborates with energy technology companies, non-profits, researchers, federal staff, coastal community groups, and blue economy accelerators to support the responsible, just and rapid development of these technologies. Previously, he worked with ocean user groups on ocean acidification and sustainable fisheries policy and legislation. Ryan holds a Master of Marine Policy from the University of Delaware as well as a degree in Environmental Economics and Policy from the University of California at Berkeley.
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