Waves Have Lots of Energy
Waves are caused by the wind blowing over the surface of the ocean. There is tremendous energy in the ocean waves. It's estimated that the total potential off the coast of the United States is 252 billion kilowatthours a year, about 7% of the United States' electricity consumption in 2008. The west coasts of the United States and Europe and the coasts of Japan and New Zealand are good sites for harnessing wave energy.
Different Ways To Channel the Power of Waves
One way to harness wave energy is to bend or focus the waves into a narrow channel, increasing their power and size. The waves can then be channeled into a catch basin or used directly to spin turbines.
Many more ways to capture wave energy are currently under development. Some of these devices being developed are placed underwater, anchored to the ocean floor, while others ride on top of the waves. The world's first commercial wave farm using one such technology opened in 2008 at the Aguçadora Wave Park in Portugal.
See all the technologies under development at the U.S. Department of Energy's Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Database.