Wave Energy Generation

Renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar and wave energy have a number of advantages, compared to traditional fossil fuels – they are clean, their supply is not depleted over time, and they are, at least from a fuel standpoint, free. Even though there are several challenges concerning technological improvement in performance and cost that need to be addressed, the demand for renewables is increasing, e.g., the installed capacity of wind generation in the United States has been growing at more than 20% per year during the last two decades (EPRI 2006). Officials from the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory believe that “one day marine power could catch on like wind power, currently the fastest growing alternative energy” (Planet Ark, 2005).

Why wave energy?
Ocean waves hold tremendous amounts of energy that can be captured and converted for commercial electrical energy production. The following OSU dissertation from 2003 on ocean electric energy extraction opportunities, provides background information on the history and technology of wave energy generation.
Wave energy development is still in its infancy and compared to other renewable energy technologies needs to go through numerous steps of development before becoming commercially viable and competitive. However, wave energy has a great potential because it is:
• less intermittent,
• easier to forecast, and
• has higher power per unit area than wind and solar energy (EPRI 2006).
It has been estimated that if only 0.2% of the ocean energy were harnessed, it could produce enough energy to power the entire world and that a 10-square-mile wave power plant could supply the entire state of Oregon (Annette von Jouanne, MSNBC 2005).

Why in Oregon?
EPRI studies from 2004 show that wave energy projects may be commercially viable at favorable sites in the United States. Oregon has been identified as an ideal location for wave energy conversion based primarily on:
• its tremendous wave resource and long coastline - extending 360 miles,
• best bathymetry on the West Coast,
• its well-developed coastal transmission capacity,
• industry, utility and community support, and
• the presence of Oregon State University research facilities and commitment to studying, experimenting and improving on this new technology.
All these factors allow Oregon to position itself as the leader in wave energy development nationally. As the Governor has said on numerous occasions and specifically in his “State of the State” address on February 24, 2006, "We need alternative renewable energy, tougher fuel efficiency standards, and an ocean conservation strategy” (http://governor.oregon.gov).

Why now?
Governor Kulongoski has already undertaken the responsibility and on numerous occasions has shown his political support for alternative energy research and development, as well as ocean resources conservation. He has:
• Established the West Coast Governor’s Agreement on Ocean Health in September 2006 to address critical ocean and coastal management issues faced by the three neighboring states.
• Introduced the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in the 74th Oregon Legislature and guided its approval by both the Senate and the House. The RPS, which requires that 25% of the state’s electricity to come from renewable energy sources by 2025, gives Oregon the opportunity to be the leader in alternative and renewable energy.
• Initiated a collaborative process with local communities and developers for finding win-win solutions that allow developers to deploy WEC devices in the ocean without too much interference with traditional ocean uses – commercial and recreational fishing, navigation, crabbing, coastal tourism, and aesthetics.
• Supported the initiative for the creation of the Oregon Innovation Council to create the Oregon Wave Energy Trust (OWET) and has awarded it with $ 5.2 million funding.