Towards Integration of Low Carbon Energy and Biodiversity Policies

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Towards Integration of Low Carbon Energy and Biodiversity Policies Towards integration of low carbon energy and biodiversity policies An assessment of impacts of low carbon energy scenarios on biodiversity in the UK and abroad and an assessment of a framework for determining ILUC impacts based on UK bio-energy demand scenarios SUPPORTING DOCUMENT – LITERATURE REVIEW OF IMPACTS ON BIODIVERSITY Defra 29 March 2013 In collaboration with: Supporting document – Literature review on impacts on biodiversity Document information CLIENT Defra REPORT TITLE Supporting document – Literature review of impacts on biodiversity PROJECT NAME Towards integration of low carbon energy and biodiversity policies PROJECT CODE WC1012 PROJECT TEAM BIO Intelligence Service, IEEP, CEH PROJECT OFFICER Mr. Andy Williams, Defra Mrs. Helen Pontier, Defra DATE 29 March 2013 AUTHORS Mr. Shailendra Mudgal, Bio Intelligence Service Ms. Sandra Berman, Bio Intelligence Service Dr. Adrian Tan, Bio Intelligence Service Ms. Sarah Lockwood, Bio Intelligence Service Dr. Anne Turbé, Bio Intelligence Service Dr. Graham Tucker, IEEP Mr. Andrew J. Mac Conville, IEEP Ms. Bettina Kretschmer, IEEP Dr. David Howard, CEH KEY CONTACTS Sébastien Soleille [email protected] Or Constance Von Briskorn [email protected] DISCLAIMER The project team does not accept any liability for any direct or indirect damage resulting from the use of this report or its content. This report contains the results of research by the authors and is not to be perceived as the opinion of Defra. Photo credit: cover @ Per Ola Wiberg ©BIO Intelligence Service 2013 2 | Towards integration of low carbon energy and biodiversity policies Annex A Table of Contents 1.1 Nuclear 10 1.1.1 Overview of the technology 10 1.1.2 Use in the UK 11 1.1.3 UK biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 13 1.1.4 International biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 20 1.1.5 Conclusions 20 1.2 Coal 23 1.2.1 Overview of the technology 23 1.2.2 UK biodiversity impacts from coal mining and their mitigation 24 1.2.3 UK biodiversity impacts from coal combustion and their mitigation 27 1.2.4 International biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 30 1.2.5 Conclusions 30 1.3 Oil and gas 33 1.3.1 Overview of the technology 33 1.3.2 UK biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 33 1.3.3 International biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 40 1.3.4 Conclusions 41 1.4 Carbon capture and storage (CCS) 43 1.4.1 Overview of the technology 43 1.4.2 Use in the UK 47 1.4.3 UK biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 50 1.4.4 International biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 56 1.4.5 Conclusions 56 1.5 Hydroelectric power 57 1.5.1 Overview of the technology 57 1.5.2 Use in the UK 58 1.5.3 UK biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 59 1.5.4 International biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 63 1.5.5 Conclusions 63 1.6 Onshore wind 66 1.6.1 Overview of the technology 66 1.6.2 Use in the UK 67 1.6.3 UK biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 68 Towards integration of low carbon energy and biodiversity policies | 3 Supporting document – Literature review on impacts on biodiversity 1.6.4 International biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 72 1.6.5 Conclusions 72 1.7 Offshore wind 73 1.7.1 Overview of the technology 73 1.7.2 Use in the UK 75 1.7.3 UK environmental impacts 76 1.7.4 International environmental impacts 81 1.7.5 Conclusions 81 1.8 Microgeneration of electricity 83 1.8.1 Overview of the technology 83 1.8.2 Use in the UK 87 1.8.3 UK biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 87 1.8.4 International biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 89 1.8.5 Conclusions 89 1.9 Crop-derived biofuels 90 1.9.1 Overview of the technology 90 1.9.2 Use in the UK 91 1.9.3 UK biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 93 1.9.4 International biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 97 1.9.5 Conclusions 100 1.10 Biomass from dedicated energy crops and primary wood production 103 1.10.1 Overview of the technology 103 1.10.2 Use in the UK 104 1.10.3 UK biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 105 1.10.4 International biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 108 1.10.5 Conclusions 111 1.11 Biomass from agricultural and forestry residues 115 1.11.1 Overview of the technology 115 1.11.2 Use in the UK 116 1.11.3 UK biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 116 1.11.4 International biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 118 1.11.5 Conclusions 119 1.12 Biomass from genuinely residual wastes 120 1.12.1 Overview of the technology 120 1.12.2 Use in the UK 121 1.12.3 UK biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 123 4 | Towards integration of low carbon energy and biodiversity policies Annex A 1.12.4 International biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 124 1.12.5 Conclusions 125 1.13 Geothermal electricity 126 1.13.1 Overview of the technology 126 1.13.2 Use in the UK 127 1.13.3 UK biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 127 1.13.4 International biodiversity impacts and their mitigation 129 1.13.5 Conclusions 129 1.14 Tidal stream 131 1.14.1 Overview of the technology 131 1.14.2 Use in the UK 131 1.14.3 UK Environmental Impacts 133 1.14.4 International environmental impacts 136 1.14.5 Conclusions 137 1.15 Tidal range 138 1.15.1 Overview of the technology 138 1.15.2 Use in the UK 139 1.15.3 UK environmental impacts 140 1.15.4 International environmental impacts 143 1.15.5 Conclusions 144 1.16 Wave power 146 1.16.1 Overview of the technology 146 1.16.2 Use in the UK 148 1.16.3 UK biodiversity impacts 149 1.16.4 International impacts 151 1.16.5 Conclusions 151 1.17 Future technologies 154 1.17.1 Overview of the technologies 154 1.17.2 Description of the technologies and their impacts/mitigation 154 1.17.3 Conclusions 156 1.18 Energy grid – transmission and storage 157 1.18.1 Overview of the technology 157 1.18.2 Description of the technologies and their impacts/mitigation 157 1.18.3 Conclusions 160 Towards integration of low carbon energy and biodiversity policies | 5 Supporting document – Literature review on impacts on biodiversity List of Tables Table 1: Power reactors operating in the UK 12 Table 2: Nuclear power environmental impacts – by operation 14 Table 3: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from nuclear energy in the UK 22 Table 4: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from the use of coal for UK energy requirements 32 Table 5: Produced water discharges containing oil between 2005 and 2009 36 Table 6: Oil and chemical releases from offshore installations and pipelines in the UK 37 Table 7: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from the use of oil and gas for UK energy requirements 41 Table 8: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from the use of fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage for UK energy requirements 56 Table 9: Total installed capacity and gross electricity generation from hydropower in the UK in 2010 59 Table 10: The number of possible future hydroelectricity sites in England and Wales classified according to their potential fish impacts 62 Table 11: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from the use of hydropower for UK energy requirements 65 Table 12: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from the use of onshore wind for UK energy requirements 72 Table 13: Offshore windfarm projects in the UK (March 2012) 76 Table 14 Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from the use of offshore wind for UK energy requirements 82 Table 15: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from microgeneration of energy in the UK 90 Table 16: UK biofuel volumes per feedstock from the UK (DfT 2011) 91 Table 17: UK land areas used for agriculture and crops for biofuels 92 Table 18: UK biofuel volumes per feedstock imported 93 Table 19: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from the use of crop-derived biofuels for UK energy requirements 101 Table 20: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from the use of dedicated energy crops for UK energy requirements 112 6 | Towards integration of low carbon energy and biodiversity policies Annex A Table 21: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from the use of biomass from agricultural and forestry residues for UK energy requirements 119 Table 22: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from the use of genuinely residual wastes for UK energy requirements 125 Table 23: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from the use of geothermal power for UK energy requirements 130 Table 24: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from tidal stream energy production in the UK 137 Table 25: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from the use of tidal range energy in the UK 144 Table 26: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from the use of wave power derived energy in the UK 152 Table 27: Summary of potential biodiversity impacts per unit of energy produced from energy transmission and storage in the UK 160 Towards integration of low carbon energy and biodiversity policies | 7 Supporting document – Literature review on impacts on biodiversity List of Figures Figure 1: Power generation in a nuclear plant 10 Figure 2: Power generation in a coal-fired power station 24 Figure 3: Mine fields in the UK 25 Figure 4: Changes in soil pH across England and Wales between 1978 and 2003;
Recommended publications
  • Aquamarine Power – Oyster* Biopower Systems – Biowave
    Wave Energy Converters (WECs) Aquamarine Power – Oyster* The Oyster is uniquely designed to harness wave energy in a near-shore environment. It is composed primarily of a simple mechanical hinged flap connected to the seabed at a depth of about 10 meters and is gravity moored. Each passing wave moves the flap, driving hydraulic pistons to deliver high pressure water via a pipeline to an onshore electrical turbine. AWS Ocean Energy – Archimedes Wave Swing™* The Archimedes Wave Swing is a seabed point-absorbing wave energy converter with a large air-filled cylinder that is submerged beneath the waves. As a wave crest approaches, the water pressure on the top of the cylinder increases and the upper part or 'floater' compresses the air within the cylinder to balance the pressures. The reverse happens as the wave trough passes and the cylinder expands. The relative movement between the floater and the fixed lower part is converted directly to electricity by means of a linear power take-off. BioPower Systems – bioWAVE™ The bioWAVE oscillating wave surge converter system is based on the swaying motion of sea plants in the presence of ocean waves. In extreme wave conditions, the device automatically ceases operation and assumes a safe position lying flat against the seabed. This eliminates exposure to extreme forces, allowing for light-weight designs. Centipod* The Centipod is a Wave Energy Conversion device currently under construction by Dehlsen Associates, LLC. It operates in water depths of 40-44m and uses a two point mooring system with four lines. Its methodology for wave energy conversion is similar to other devices.
    [Show full text]
  • Planning Implications of Renewable and Low Carbon Energy
    Practice Guidance Planning Implications of Renewable and Low Carbon Energy February 2011 Cover image courtesy of Thermal Earth Ltd Planning Divison Welsh Assembly Government Cardiff CF10 3NQ E-mail: [email protected] Planning web site - www.wales.gov.uk/planning ISBN 978 0 7504 6039 2 © Crown copyright 2011 WAG10-11462 F7131011 Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1 2. Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Technologies 10 3. Wind Energy 13 4. Biomass 27 5. Biomass – Anaerobic Digestion 43 6. Biofuels 49 7. Hydropower 55 8. Solar 62 9. Ground, Water and Air Source Heat Pumps 68 10. Geothermal 73 11. Fuel Cells 77 12. Combined Heat and Power/Combined Cooling Heat and Power 82 13. District Heating 86 14. Waste Heat 90 15. Cumulative Effects 96 16. Climate Change Effects 97 17. Financial Opportunities and Barriers 102 18. Community involvement and benefits 106 19. Renewable and Low Carbon developments in designated areas and 114 sites 20. Influencing planning decisions 124 Appendices Appendix 1: References 133 Appendix 2: Glossary 135 Appendix 3: Matrices – Potential Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies (see separate spreadsheet) 3 Practice Guidance – Planning Implications of Renewable and Low Carbon Energy List of Abbreviations AAP Area Action Plan LAPC Local Air Pollution Control AD Anaerobic Digestion LDP Local Development Plan Area of Outstanding Natural AONB LPA Local Planning Authority Beauty Building Research Local Development BREEAM Establishment Environmental LDF Framework Assessment Method CAA Civil Aviation Authority
    [Show full text]
  • Lessons Learned from Orkney Island: the Possibility of Waves to Churn out Enery and Economic Returns in the U.S
    Lessons Learned from Orkney Island: The Possibility of Waves to Churn Out Enery and Economic Returns in the U.S. by Marisa McNatt About the Author Marisa McNatt is pursuing her PhD in Environmental Studies with a renewable energy policy focus at the University of Colorado-Boulder. She earned a Master’s in Journalism and Broadcast and a Certificate in Environment, Policy, and Society from CU-Boulder in 2011. This past summer, she traveled to Europe as a Heinrich Böll Climate Media fellow with the goal of researching EU renewable energy policies, with an emphasis on marine renewables, and communicating lessons learned to U.S. policy-makers and other relevant stakeholders. Published by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Washington, DC, March 2014 Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License Author: Marisa McNatt Design: Anna Liesa Fero Cover: ScottishPower Renewables „Wave energy device that turns energy from the waves into electricity at the European Marine Energy Center’s full-scale wave test site off the coast of Orkney Island. Pelamis P2-002 was developed by Pelamis Wave Power and is owned by ScottishPower Renewables.” Heinrich Böll Stiftung North America 1432 K Street NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 United States T +1 202 462 7512 F +1 202 462 5230 E [email protected] www.us.boell.org 2 Lessons Learned from Orkney Island: The Possibility of Waves to Churn Out Enery and Economic Returns in the U.S. by Marisa McNatt A remote island off the Northern tip of Scotland, begins, including obtaining the necessary permits from long known for its waves and currents, is channeling energy and environmental regulatory agencies, as well attention from the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2012
    Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2012 Production team: Iain MacLeay Kevin Harris Anwar Annut and chapter authors A National Statistics publication London: TSO © Crown Copyright 2012 All rights reserved First published 2012 ISBN 9780115155284 Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics Enquiries about statistics in this publication should be made to the contact named at the end of the relevant chapter. Brief extracts from this publication may be reproduced provided that the source is fully acknowledged. General enquiries about the publication, and proposals for reproduction of larger extracts, should be addressed to Kevin Harris, at the address given in paragraph XXIX of the Introduction. The Department of Energy and Climate Change reserves the right to revise or discontinue the text or any table contained in this Digest without prior notice. About TSO's Standing Order Service The Standing Order Service, open to all TSO account holders, allows customers to automatically receive the publications they require in a specified subject area, thereby saving them the time, trouble and expense of placing individual orders, also without handling charges normally incurred when placing ad-hoc orders. Customers may choose from over 4,000 classifications arranged in 250 sub groups under 30 major subject areas. These classifications enable customers to choose from a wide variety of subjects, those publications that are of special interest to them. This is a particularly valuable service for the specialist library or research body. All publications will be dispatched immediately after publication date. Write to TSO, Standing Order Department, PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN, quoting reference 12.01.013.
    [Show full text]
  • Wave Hub Appendix N to the Environmental Statement
    South West of England Regional Development Agency Wave Hub Appendix N to the Environmental Statement June 2006 Report No: 2006R001 South West Wave Hub Hayle, Cornwall Archaeological assessment Historic Environment Service (Projects) Cornwall County Council A Report for Halcrow South West Wave Hub, Hayle, Cornwall Archaeological assessment Kevin Camidge Dip Arch, MIFA Charles Johns BA, MIFA Philip Rees, FGS, C.Geol Bryn Perry Tapper, BA April 2006 Report No: 2006R001 Historic Environment Service, Environment and Heritage, Cornwall County Council Kennall Building, Old County Hall, Station Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3AY tel (01872) 323603 fax (01872) 323811 E-mail [email protected] www.cornwall.gov.uk 3 Acknowledgements This study was commissioned by Halcrow and carried out by the projects team of the Historic Environment Service (formerly Cornwall Archaeological Unit), Environment and Heritage, Cornwall County Council in partnership with marine consultants Kevin Camidge and Phillip Rees. Help with the historical research was provided by the Cornish Studies Library, Redruth, Jonathan Holmes and Jeremy Rice of Penlee House Museum, Penzance; Angela Broome of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Truro and Guy Hannaford of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Taunton. The drawing of the medieval carved slate from Crane Godrevy (Fig 43) is reproduced courtesy of Charles Thomas. Within the Historic Environment Service, the Project Manager was Charles Johns, who also undertook the terrestrial assessment and walkover survey. Bryn Perry Tapper undertook the GIS mapping, computer generated models and illustrations. Marine consultants for the project were Kevin Camidge, who interpreted and reported on the marine geophysical survey results and Phillip Rees who provided valuable advice.
    [Show full text]
  • Saturday 18 July 2009
    Contents House of Commons • Noticeboard ..........................................................................................................1 • The Week Ahead..................................................................................................2 • Order of Oral Questions .......................................................................................3 Weekly Business Information • Business of the House of Commons 13 – 17 July 2009........................................5 Bulletin • Written Ministerial Statements.............................................................................7 • Forthcoming Business of the House of Commons 20 July – 16 October 2009..10 • Forthcoming Business of the House of Lords 20 July – 16 October 2009 .........18 Editor: Kevin Williams Legislation House of Commons Public Legislation Information Office • Public Bills before Parliament 2008/09..............................................................20 London • Bills – Presentation, Publication and Royal Assent............................................30 SW1A 2TT • Public and General Acts 2008/09 .......................................................................31 www.parliament.uk • Draft Bills under consideration or published during 2008/09 Session ...............32 Tel : 020 7219 4272 Private Legislation Fax : 020 7219 5839 • Private Bills before Parliament 2008/09.............................................................33 [email protected] Delegated Legislation • Statutory Instruments .........................................................................................36
    [Show full text]
  • SSE Annual Report 2006
    POWERFUL OPPORTUNITIES Scottish and Southern Energy plc Annual Report 2006 Scottish and Southern Energy Annual Report 2006 Contents Chairman’s Statement 1 Directors’ Report 28 Dividends 59 What We Do 2 Corporate Governance 29 Earnings Per Share 60 Where We Are 4 Organisation and Structure 29 Intangible Assets 61 Key Performance Indicators 6 Board Effectiveness 30 Property, Plant and Equipment 63 Chief Executive’s Statement 8 Board Commitees 30 Investment in Associates and Joint Ventures 64 Audit Committee 30 Subsidiary Undertakings 66 Directors’ Statement 9 Remuneration Committee 31 Acquisitions and Disposals 68 Financial Overview 9 Nomination Committee 31 Inventories 70 Energy Systems 9 Risk Committee 32 Trade and Other Receivables 70 Generation and Supply 13 Executive Committee 32 Cash and Cash Equivalents 70 Contracting, Connections and Metering 20 Health, Safety and Environmental Advisory Committee 32 Trade and Other Payables 71 Gas Storage 21 Internal Control and Risk Management Current Tax Liabilities 71 Telecoms 22 Committee 32 Construction Contracts 71 Exceptional Items 22 Going Concern 33 Loans and Other Borrowings 71 Capital Expenditure 22 Communication with Shareholders Deferred Taxation 74 Financial Management 23 and Major Business Stakeholders 33 Provisions 75 Tax 23 Share Capital 76 Balance Sheet 25 Directors’ Biographies and Responsibilities 34 Reserves 76 Purchase of own Shares 25 Remuneration Report 36 Minority Interests 77 Corporate Responsibility 25 Retirement Benefit Obligations 78 Strategy and Outlook 25 Independent
    [Show full text]
  • Industrial Impact the Power of Scotland's Renewables Sector
    Supported by Industrial impact the power of Scotland’s renewables sector Wind Service at E.ON INTRODUCTION Climate and Renewables Despite daily headlines on energy, climate change and the growth of renewables, few people appreciate the scale of the transformation which is steadily underway in our energy sector. In just eight years Scotland has almost tripled its Glasgow and Edinburgh are home to large power utilities renewable energy capacity, and made a massive dent in as well as some of our most cutting-edge science, the country’s carbon emissions as a result. research and innovation organisations – companies like Limpet Technologies and Neo Environmental are The industrial benefits of this strategic transformation developing unique products which are already being are as impressive as the environmental ones: exported across the globe. renewable energy is driving innovation and clean growth across Scotland. Research by Scottish Renewables in December 2016 showed Scottish renewable energy businesses like these The sector currently employs 21,000 people, from have been involved in projects worth £125.3 million in 43 entrepreneurs who’re designing new ways to capture countries in every continent bar Antarctica. energy from nature, consultants who make projects viable, E.ON in Scotland lawyers who negotiate contracts, a supply chain which In the south of Scotland, organisations like Natural Power builds wind farms, hydro plant and solar farms and an and Green Cat Group are nurturing workforces skilled army of highly-skilled engineers and technicians who in providing the development support that renewable E.ON, through its renewables arm E.ON Climate and multiple turbine manufacturers/types across Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • Renewable Energy Progress Report: South West 2012 Annual Survey 3 Contents Foreword
    1 The south west now generates around 394 GWh of renewable electricity Renewable Energy from wind each year, which accounts for 28 per cent of renewable electricity in the south west, and 1.5 per cent of Progress Report: our electricity demand South West 2012 Annual Survey Renewable Energy Progress Report: South West 2012 Annual Survey 3 Contents Foreword Foreword 3 Last year global investment in renewable Renewable electricity 4 energy reached £165 billion – on par with Renewable heat 8 fossil fuel investment. The low-carbon Low-carbon economy 12 energy revolution is underway. R&D and technology development 14 This report uses the south west of England as a ‘test bed’ to 3. Some of our elected representatives are misreading the Regen SW’s advisory services 16 look in more detail at what is powering this revolution. It sets public mood: local opinion polls, as well as our experience out the excellent renewable energy resources, the progress we at community events, show a strong and consistent majority Case studies 17 are making in harnessing them and the lessons we can draw for supportive of all renewables, based on a common sense the national Renewable Energy Roadmap to increase the speed view that in an uncertain world we should make the most of Anaerobic digestion and sewage gas 18 of deployment and job creation. our local energy resources. The past year in the south west has seen record growth in 4. We need all renewables: small, medium and large: solar PV Biomass 20 renewable electricity from 218 MW to over 520 MW and has dominated this year’s figures in the south west, but consistent growth in renewable heat.
    [Show full text]
  • Modified UK National Implementation Measures for Phase III of the EU Emissions Trading System
    Modified UK National Implementation Measures for Phase III of the EU Emissions Trading System As submitted to the European Commission in April 2012 following the first stage of their scrutiny process This document has been issued by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, together with the Devolved Administrations for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. April 2012 UK’s National Implementation Measures submission – April 2012 Modified UK National Implementation Measures for Phase III of the EU Emissions Trading System As submitted to the European Commission in April 2012 following the first stage of their scrutiny process On 12 December 2011, the UK submitted to the European Commission the UK’s National Implementation Measures (NIMs), containing the preliminary levels of free allocation of allowances to installations under Phase III of the EU Emissions Trading System (2013-2020), in accordance with Article 11 of the revised ETS Directive (2009/29/EC). In response to queries raised by the European Commission during the first stage of their assessment of the UK’s NIMs, the UK has made a small number of modifications to its NIMs. This includes the introduction of preliminary levels of free allocation for four additional installations and amendments to the preliminary free allocation levels of seven installations that were included in the original NIMs submission. The operators of the installations affected have been informed directly of these changes. The allocations are not final at this stage as the Commission’s NIMs scrutiny process is ongoing. Only when all installation-level allocations for an EU Member State have been approved will that Member State’s NIMs and the preliminary levels of allocation be accepted.
    [Show full text]
  • An Update on Large Scale Wave Energy Conversion
    AN UPDATE ON LARGE SCALE WAVE ENERGY CONVERSION Rik van Hemmen, Fellow and Michael Raftery Member Martin Ottaway van Hemmen & Dolan, Inc. [email protected] [email protected] SNAME – SMC 2019 Technical Paper – Peer Reviewed Abstract Submission SNAME FACE: Engineers/Designers Topic: Design and Engineering, Sustainable Energy It is time for Wave Energy Conversion (WEC) to be part of the sustainable energy toolbox at a utility level. Solar and wind renewable power systems are now sustainable technologies which are economically competitive with existing fossil fuel and nuclear options. Even though there have been WEC development efforts as long as there have been industrial solar and wind efforts, WEC systems simply have never made it out of the experimental starting blocks. This paper examines prior efforts and examines why they have failed at a utility level and describes the design and engineering of emerging technologies that could make large scale wave energy conversion competitive with present state of the art large scale wind and solar projects. The SurfWEC concept is introduced as a game changing approach to achieve much lower Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) rates than are achievable with existing WEC approaches by enabling significant increases in kinetic energy input to various WEC designs. KEY WORDS: Renewable Energy; Marine Renewable IEC TC-114: IEC Technical Committee for Marine Energy; Wave Energy Converter; WEC; Marine Hydrokinetic; Energy Standards development and MHK; SurfWEC; Future Energy; Sustainable Energy
    [Show full text]
  • Review of Wave Energy Technologies and the Necessary Power-Equipment
    Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 27 (2013) 413–434 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/rser Review of wave energy technologies and the necessary power-equipment Iraide López a,n, Jon Andreu a, Salvador Ceballos b, Iñigo Martínez de Alegría a, Iñigo Kortabarria a a Department of Electronics Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Spain b Tecnalia Research and Innovation, Derio 48160, Spain article info abstract Article history: The wave energy is having more and more interest and support as a promising renewable resource to Received 13 May 2013 replace part of the energy supply, although it is still immature compared to other renewable Received in revised form technologies. This work presents a complete analysis of the wave energy technology, starting with the 4 July 2013 characterisation of this global resource in which the most suitable places to be exploited are showed, and Accepted 5 July 2013 the classification of the different types of wave energy converters in according to several features. It is Available online 31 July 2013 also described in detail each of the stages that are part in the energy conversion, that is, from the capture Keywords: of the energy from the waves to the extraction of a proper electrical signal to be injected to the grid. Wave energy Likewise, existing offshore energy transmission alternatives and possible layouts are described. Wave power & 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Wave energy converter Power electronics Power transmission Contents 1. Introduction........................................................................................................ 413 2. Global wave energy resource .
    [Show full text]