When we think of generating clean energy, most people primarily think of solar and wind, not the waves. But waves carry an immense amount of energy, with the ocean carrying more energy than the 30,000 TWh of electricity generated around the world in 2023.
According to estimates from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, wave energy converters within 10 miles of the U.S. coastline could generate 440 TWh, covering around 18% of U.S. electricity needs. Unfortunately the technology to harness this energy has faced some issues both financially and through failed prototypes, but according to Undecided with Matt Ferrell, that could be changing.
In 2023, CorPower Ocean‘s buoys survived 60-foot waves in Portugal, delivering clean energy to the grid in the process. With a tension system and WaveSpring technology, these buoys harvest energy during both crests and troughs, pulling energy even in small waves.
While offshore wind sees around 1,000 hours of downtime annually, wave energy only sees 200 hours. It also peaks in the winter when solar output drops. So while the energy source likely won’t wind up as the only source of clean energy, it could serve as a great compliment to the sources we already have.
