Reference Info for R7
Text Reference:
M. Ombogo. 'Analyzing lifecycle requirements of marine hydrokinetic energy systems.' Technical report, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, Dec 2022.
BibTeX Source:
@techreport{Ombogo2022a,
author = {Ombogo, Maurice},
title = {Analyzing lifecycle requirements of marine hydrokinetic energy systems},
type = {SYSE 695 Independent Study Report},
institution = {Colorado State University},
address = {Fort Collins, CO, USA},
month = dec,
year = {2022},
pdf = {https://www.engr.colostate.edu/%7Edrherber/files/Ombogo2022a.pdf},
}Abstract:
The world today is striving towards green energy technologies and global access to affordable and clean energy is the 7th of 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Demand for electricity is growing alongside the consequences posed by climate change and there is increasing need for systems that can generate electricity from renewable energy sources. We are therefore seeing a changeover from existing conventional energy sources to optimized and innovative cleaner sources. Ocean wave energy is one of the most promising sources of clean, and reliable energy, and it is estimated that there is a theoretical global wave energy potential of 32,000 TWh available per year (1). Moreover, with approximately 40% of the world’s population residing in coastal areas, it provides opportunities for the deployment of Wave Energy Converters (WECs) for distributed generation.
For these reasons, marine hydrokinetic energy is a growing piece of the renewable energy sector that offers high predictability and additional energy sources for a diversified energy economy. The ocean covers approximately 70% of the earth’s surface and contains an immense source of renewable energy from ocean waves. Wind and solar energy sources encounter challenges such as integration and predictability, which suggest a need for energy storage, as well as societal challenges such as competing for land use and environmental impact concerns. Marine hydrokinetic systems are located within water bodies, which can be forecast with greater accuracy and may not have the same challenges experienced by wind and solar0 F. That said, wave energy technology is still an emerging form of renewable energy for which large- scale grid-connected project costs are currently poorly defined (2). Also, this resource is unevenly distributed throughout the world, and so converting waves into a useful form of energy will require the identification of potential Wave Energy Farm (WEF) locations. This should be undertaken in tandem with selecting an appropriate Wave Energy Converter (WEC), as the characteristics of these devices are critical in capturing the available wave power (1).
Hydrokinetic systems extract kinetic energy from moving water without the need for a dam, barrage, or penstock. These systems can generate power from low speed flowing water with limited environmental impact, over a much wider range of sites than those available for conventional hydropower generation. In this study, the hydrokinetic system has been selected instead of the traditional micro-hydropower. Its operation principle has many similarities to wind turbines. Knowing that water is approximately 800 times denser than air, the amount of energy produced by a hydrokinetic turbine is much greater than that produced by a wind turbine of equal diameter under equal water and wind speed. The other advantages of hydrokinetic systems are that the water resource does not fluctuate unpredictably in a short period of time as the wind speed, and the flow of water is often more predictable than wind (3).
However, predictable energy production with a structurally more promising and economically competitive design is not the sole criterion for installing new power farms. There are other important life cycle analysis (LCA) issues like climate change, ozone layer depletion, and effects on surrounding environments (e.g., ecosystem quality, natural resources, and human health) that emerge as dominant factors from a green energy point of view (4). This project shall provide a comprehensive set of requirements applicable to Marine Hydrokinetic Energy Systems, together with the relevant justifications. The project intends to give a lifecycle approach to systems requirements from system conception, design & development, construction, distribution, operation, maintenance & support, to retirement/phase-out, and disposal considerations. The set of Requirements herewith described will be the baseline for considerations for realizing marine hydrokinetic energy technologies in oceans and other bodies of water. Further work may be required after the identification of a farm site since some requirements are specific to location.