Ocean Energy: Technologies, Patents, Deployment Status And
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IRENA International Renewable Energy Agency OCEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY READINESS, PATENTS, DEPLOYMENT STATUS AND OUTLOOK REPORT AUGUST 2014 Copyright © IRENA 2014 OTEC Patents Unless otherwise indicated, material in this publication may be used freely, shared or reprinted, so long The following table summarises international PCT applications related to OTEC in 2013. as IRENA is acknowledged as the source. Summary of international OTEC PCT applications published in 2013 International Country Applicant Date About IRENA Publication Number of Applicant WO 2013/000948 A2 DCNS 03 Jan 2013 France The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that WO 2013/013231 A2 Kalex LLC 24 Jan 2013 USA supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform WO 2013/025797 A2 The Abell Foundation, Inc. 21 Feb 2013 USA for international co-operation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable WO 2013/025802 A2 The Abell Foundation, Inc. 21 Feb 2013 USA use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and WO 2013/025807 A2 The Abell Foundation, Inc. 21 Feb 2013 USA wind energy, in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon WO 2013/050666 A1 IFP Energies Nouvelles 11 Apr 2013 France economic growth and prosperity. www.irena.org WO 2013/078339 A2 Lockheed Martin Corporation 30 May 2013 USA WO 2013/090796 A1 Lockheed Martin Corporation 20 Jun 2013 USA Acknowledgements This report was produced in collaboration with Garrad Hassan & Partners Ltd (trading as DNV GL) Salinity Gradient Patents under contract. The report benefitted from very valuable feedback from Robert Cohen (Consultant on ocean thermal energy), Carlos Perez Collazo (Plymouth University), Vincent de Laleu (Électricité There were no international PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) publications observed related to salinity gradient de France - EDF), Ana Brito e Melo (WavEC), Sarah Helm (CambridgeIP Ltd), Alice Monnet (GDF energy in 2013. Suez), Frank Neumann (Institute for Infrastructure, Environment and Innovation - IMIEU), Dee Nunn (RenewableUK), Gerard Owens (European Patent Office), Sandra Parthie (Alstom), Matthijs Soede (European Commission), Jose Luis Villate (Tecnalia) and Ana Novak Zdravkovic (GDF Suez) Authors: Linus Mofor (IRENA) Jarett Goldsmith and Fliss Jones (Garrad Hassan & Partners Ltd) For further information or to provide feedback, please contact: Linus Mofor, IRENA Innovation and Technology Centre. E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]. Disclaimer While this publication promotes the adoption and use of renewable energy, the International Renewable Energy Agency does not endorse any particular project, product or service provider. The designations employed and the presentation of materials herein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Renewable Energy Agency concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. This report is provided for illustrative purposes only, without any representations, warranties or undertakings from IRENA, DNV GL, or the Authors as to the content of any part of this report and the data contained therein, including, without limitation, in respect of quality, accuracy, completeness or reliability. The information contained in the report does not represent endorsement of any particular project, product or service provider. By accessing the report, either on a hard copy or electronically, users accept that neither IRENA, nor DNV GL, nor the Authors are responsible for any kind of loss or damage resulting from the use of information contained in the report and acknowledge that the content of the report and data therein are subject to change. Ocean Energy 59 Ocean Energy Technology Readiness, Patents, Deployment Status and Outlook REPORT AUGUST 2014 FOREWORD In the transition to a clean energy future, we need to explore ways for all forms of renew- able energy to be developed and deployed fully, competitively and in a sustainable way. Over the last few years we have witnessed tremendous growth and cost reductions with some renewables, particularly wind power and solar photovoltaics. The deployment out- look for these technologies remains strong. However, this is still not the case with all forms of renewable energy. Ocean energy is a striking example of a renew- able resource with tremendous potential but only a very small share in the global energy mix to date. The sheer potential of the world’s oceans to meet our future energy needs is huge. The challenge of harnessing this vast res- ervoir of clean, renewable energy has piqued the curiosity, as well as the ambition, of humanity for millennia. This continues to be the case today, amid remarkable innovation and advances in research and development related to ocean energy technologies. As REmap 2030, the global roadmap from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), shows, the world can more than double the share of renewables in the global energy mix by 2030, sufficient to keep the rise of global temperatures within two degrees Celsius, at no extra cost compared to conventional energy solutions. Even so, we need to step up efforts to ensure that all renewable sources contribute to the clean energy revolution and sustain- able economic development. We therefore need to better understand the complex barriers to ocean energy technology deployment and work together to create the enabling conditions to unleash its potential. Ensuring policy clarity, along with developing roadmaps for technology rollout with realistic commercialisation timescales, will accelerate cost and risk reduction. In order to evaluate the merits of support measures to nurture the market for such technologies, we must also take on board the socio-economic benefits of ocean energy. In this regard, policy makers need to be more aware of niche applications - such as cooling, water desalination, sustainable tourism and aquaculture, as long-term market oppor- tunities for ocean energy deployment. This report is complemented by a set of technology briefs on the main forms of ocean energy, from tidal currents and waves to temperature and salinity gradients. I hope that this contribution from IRENA encourages informed policy-making and international collaboration in order to help overcome barriers to tapping the huge potential of the oceans. In the effort to commercialise ocean energy applications, we need to be realistic about what is possible over any given time scale. With a strong vision, broad cooperation and pragmatic planning, however, we can increasingly tap into the abundant, clean, secure energy that is stored in the oceans of the world. By taking the right steps today, we can ensure that ocean energy contributes to the sustainable energy future to which we all aspire. Adnan Z. Amin Director-General International Renewable Energy Agency Ocean Energy iii iv Ocean Energy CONTENTS FOREWORD .........................................................................................................................................................................................III EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................................................................IX 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................................................. 1 2 REVIEW OF OCEAN ENERGY ......................................................................................................................................................2 2.1 Resource and technology characteristics ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������2 2.2 Technology development and deployment status .................................................................................................... 9 2.3 Future deployment ............................................................................................................................................................12 2.4 Key players in the ocean energy sector ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14 3 CLASSIFICATION OF OCEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS ...........................................17 3.1 Review of international patent activity on ocean energy technologies ..............................................................17 3.2 Tidal stream conversion systems ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������19 3.3 Wave energy conversion systems ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������25 3.4 Other ocean energy technologies ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������33 4 BARRIERS TO OCEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT ..............................................35 4.1 Technology .........................................................................................................................................................................35