Conducted by engineers at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), the research examined the potential of capturing kinetic energy from ocean currents using data collected as part of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Global Drifter Program (GDP).
The GDP features about 1,250 satellite-tracked buoys that measure ocean currents and their positions. Taking more than 43 million GDP data points from March 1988 to September 2021, the FAU team was able to estimate ocean power density and its variation over time and location.
Related content
High power densities of over 2,000 watts per square meter were found off the southeast coast of the US from Florida to North Carolina and along the eastern and southeastern coasts of Africa (Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Madagascar). Lower power densities were seen in the eastern Pacific (Japan, Vietnam and Philippines), northern South America (Brazil and French Guiana), and the eastern coast of Australia. The work is published in the journal Renewable Energy.
“Our study revealed that about 75 per cent of the total high-power density areas, covering around 490,000 square kilometres of the ocean, have energy levels between 500 and 1,000 watts per square metre,” said first author Mahsan Sadoughipour, PhD, a graduate research assistant at FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science.
“This suggests there’s a lot of potential for harvesting energy from ocean currents, especially in regions where power densities are moderate yet significant for sustainable energy production. Our study also provides insights into the factors that can influence the accuracy of energy generation estimates such as environmental conditions and measurement methods.”
The study also found that areas like South Africa and Japan, while having high power densities, present more challenges due to deeper waters and complex flow patterns. According to the FAU team, deep-water areas in excess of 1,000 metres make energy extraction more challenging and should be a key consideration when selecting where to site marine energy resources.
“The relationship between depth and power density is crucial for turbine placement and design,” said study co-author said James H VanZwieten Jr, PhD, an assistant professor in the FAU Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
“Strong ocean currents are located near the sea surface where the total water depth typically ranges from 250m to more than 3,000m. This presents significant challenges, as turbines would require advanced mooring systems to keep them stable and operational. The increased depth also raises concerns about the cost and complexity of installation and maintenance, making it essential to develop specialised technologies for these challenging environments.”
Promoted content: Advancing road safety with real-time speed camera alerts
This all seems rather silly to me. Where are your feet then? Are you quicker or slower to get on the brakes when your cruise control is set? There are...