Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-7pwfn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-15T14:07:35.264Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hydropower, Geothermal, and Ocean Energy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Ralph E.H. Sims
Ralph E.H. Sims
Affiliation:
Massey University, New Zealand, and International Energy Agency, France

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the 'Save PDF' action button.

Some forms of renewable energy have long contributed to electricity generation, whereas others are just emerging. For example, large-scale hydropower is a mature technology generating about 16% of global electricity, and many smaller scale systems are also being installed worldwide. Future opportunities to improve the technology are limited but include upgrading of existing plants to gain greater performance efficiencies and reduced maintenance. Geothermal energy, widely used for power generation and direct heat applications, is also mature, but new technologies could improve plant designs, extend their lifetimes, and improve reliability. By contrast, ocean energy is an emerging renewable energy technology. Design, development, and testing of a myriad of devices remain mainly in the research and development stage, with many opportunities for materials science to improve design and performance, reduce costly maintenance procedures, and extend plant operating lifetimes under the harsh marine environment.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Bulletin , Volume 33 , Issue 4: Harnessing Materials for Energy , April 2008, pp. 389 - 395
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

References

1.Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in Climate Change 2007: Mitigation. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Metz, B., Davidson, O.R., Bosch, P.R., Dave, R., Meyer, L.A., Eds., (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2007), ch. 4.Google Scholar
2.International Energy Agency, World Energy Outlook 2006 (OECD/IEA, Paris, 2006; www.iea.org/Textbase/publications/free_new_Desc.asp?PUBS_ID=1804) (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
3.International Energy Agency, Deploying Renewables—Principles for Effective Policies” (OECD/IEA Paris, 2008), forthcoming report in May 2008.Google Scholar
4.Ölz, S., Sims, R., Kirchner, N., Contribution of Renewables to Energy Security (OECD/IEA, Paris, 2007; www.iea.org/textbase/papers/2007/so_contribution.pdf) (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
5. Political Declaration/International Action Programme/Policy Recommendations for Renewable Energy presented at the Proceedings International Conference for Renewable Energies, Bonn, Germany, 1–4 June 2004; www.renewables2004.de (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
6.World Energy Council, 2006 Survey of Energy Resources (WEC, London, 2006).Google Scholar
7.Johansson, T.B., McCormick, K., Neij, L., Turkenburg, W., paper presented at the International Conference for Renewable Energies, Bonn, Germany, 2004; www.renewables2004.de/pdf/tbp/TBP10-potentials.pdf (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
8.Martinot, E., Renewables Global Status Report 2006 Update (Renewable Energy Policy Network, Worldwatch Institute, Washington, DC, 2006; http://www.ren21.net/pdf/RE_GSR_2006_Update.pdf) (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
9.International Hydropower Association, IHA Sustainability Assessment Protocol (IHA, London, 2006; www.hydropower.org/blue_planet_prize/compliance_protocol.html) (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
10.International Energy Agency, IEA Hydropower Implementing Agreement (IEA, Paris, 2007).Google Scholar
11.International Energy Agency, Renewable Energy: RD&D Priorities -Insights from IEA Technology Programmes (OECD/IEA, Paris, 2006; www.iea.org/Textbase/publications/free_new_Desc.asp?PUBS_ID=1592) (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
12.Lawley, M., Ecoinnovation Limited; www.ecoinnovation.co.nz (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
13.Bertani, R., in Proceedings of the World Geothermal Congress 2005, Antalya, Turkey, 24–29 April 2005.Google Scholar
14.Kato, H., Furuya, K., Yamashita, M., in Proceedings of the World Geothermal Congress, Kyushu-Tohoku, Japan, May 28–June 10, 2000.Google Scholar
15.International Energy Agency, “The IEA Geothermal Energy Implementing Agreement” (IEA, Paris, 2007; www.iea-gia.org/geo_agreement_gia.asp) (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
16.U.S. Department of Energy, Projected Benefts of Federal Energy Effciency and Renewable Energy Programs (FY2006-FY2050), Long-Term Benefts Analysis of EERE's Programs (U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC, 2005), ch. 5.Google Scholar
17.International Energy Agency, “Renewables for Heating and Cooling -Untapped Potential” (OECD/IEA, Paris, 2007; www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2007/Renewable_Heating_Cooling.pdf) (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
18.International Energy Agency, “Ocean Energy Systems Implementing Agreement” (International Energy Agency, Paris, 2007; www.iea-oceans.org) (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
19.Carbon Trust, “Marine Energy - The Next Big Opportunity for Your Technology?” (Carbon Trust, London, 2005; www.carbontrust.co.uk) (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
20.National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Energy Analysis Offce, “Renewable Energy Cost Trends” (NREL, Golden, CO, 2006; www.nrel.gov/analysis/docs/cost_curves_2005.ppt) (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
21.Wavegen Co. Ltd. (2007); www.wavegen.com (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
22.Nel, W., Feasibility of Energy Plant in Agulhas Ocean Current (Eskom Report No. RES/SC/03/22509, Eskom Holdings Ltd., Johannesburg, South Africa, 2003).Google Scholar
23.Makai Ocean Engineering, “Deep Pipelines for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion” (Makai Ocean Engineering, 2007; www.makai.com/p-otec.htm) (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
24.Composites Technology (2007); www.compositesworld.com (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
25.Mason, K.F., Compos. Technol. 44 (December, 2005); www.compositesworld.com/ct/issues/2005/December/1120 (accessed January 2008).Google Scholar
26.Darby, J.B., Proc. Conference on 'Materials for Future Energy Systems,' Washington (May 1984).Google Scholar