Ocean Current

Capturing energy from ocean currents.

Strong ocean currents are generated from a combination of temperature, wind, salinity, bathymetry, and the rotation of the earth. The sun acts as the primary driving force, causing winds and temperature differences that impact currents. Because ocean currents are fairly constant in both speed and flow and carry large amounts of energy, there are many suitable locations for deploying energy extraction devices such as turbines. Turbines capable of harnessing the kinetic energy of ocean currents may be indistinct from other marine current turbines and function according to the same principles. However, they may be designed or optimized for lower flow speeds relative to currents in tidal channels and may not need to account for reversing flow. A major difference is where the devices may be located–both geographically and in the water column. Strong ocean currents tend to be further offshore than tidal currents, which tend to be found in coastal or inland waters. This leads to deployment in deeper water. As ocean currents are strongest higher in the water column, fixed substructures for supporting a turbine become impractical for harnessing ocean current energy. Instead, devices may be suspended from moored surface platforms or attached to buoyant structures tethered to the seabed. Electricity is produced from the ocean currents by coupling a generator to the turbine and power is transmitted back to shore via subsea cable.

The primary environmental concerns associated with ocean current energy typically encompass effects of changes in flow and animal collision. It should be noted that these turbines spin much slower than propellers on ships, lessening the likelihood that a collision would result in substantial harm to an individual. There is also concern that noise from the turbines can affect animals that use sound for communication, social interaction, orientation, predation, and evasion. As with all electricity generation, electromagnetic fields generated by power cables and moving parts may affect animals that use Earth's natural magnetic field for orientation, navigation, and hunting.

Photo: OceanBased Perpetual Energy

Affiliated Marine and Wind Energy Environmental Documents

Total results: 57
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Recent Advances in Assessing Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Around the World Copping, A., Martinez, L., Hemery, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Riverine, Salinity Gradient, Tidal, Wave Attraction, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment
Underwater acoustic propagation modeling and utilization for marine hydrokinetic devices Hafla, E. Thesis Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Noise Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment
Vertical Axis Helical Turbine Development for the Cozumel Channel Centro Mexicano de Innovación en Energía (CEMIE) - Océano Project Site Marine Energy, Ocean Current
Harnessing the Power of Ocean Energy A Comprehensive Review of Power Generation Technologies and Future Perspectives Thennakoon, T., Hewage, H., Sandunika, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Salinity Gradient, Tidal, Wave Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Tidal current energy harvesting technologies: A review of current status and life cycle assessment Li, G., Zhu, W. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
European offshore renewable energy, towards a sustainable future Soukissian, T., O’Hagan, A-M., Azzellino, A. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, EMF, Noise Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data
A Review of Offshore Renewable Energy in South America: Current Status and Future Perspectives Shadman, M., Roldan-Carvajal, M., Pierart, F. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Salinity Gradient, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) in the Tropics: An Overview of MRE Potential in Oaxaca, Mexico Oman, J. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Pelagic Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data
Hydrodynamic and Morphodynamic Influences from Ocean Current Energy Conversion Sites in the South–Southeastern Brazilian Inner Shelf de Paula Kirinus, E., Oleinik, P., Marques, W. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current Changes in Flow Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Collision Risk Evidence Base OES-Environmental Summary Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal Collision
A Review of Modeling Approaches for Understanding and Monitoring the Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Buenau, K., Garavelli, L., Hemery, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise
Cost Efficiency of Environmental DNA as Compared to Conventional Methods for Biodiversity Monitoring Purposes at Marine Energy Sites Fu, M., Hemery, L., Sather, N. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
A systemic view of potential environmental impacts of ocean energy production Martinez, M., Vázquez, G., Pérez-Maqueo O. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Salinity Gradient, Tidal, Wave Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Physical Environment, Fish, Marine Mammals
Ocean renewable energy development in Southeast Asia: Opportunities, risks and unintended consequences Quirapas, M., Taeihagh, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data
Modelling the impact of flow-driven turbine power plants on great wind-driven ocean currents and the assessment of their energy potential Barnier, B., Domina, A., Gulev, S. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current Changes in Flow Physical Environment
Use of a model turbine to investigate the high striking risk of fish with tidal and oceanic current turbine blades under slow rotational speed Yoshida, T., Zhou, J., Park, S. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal Collision Fish
Pan American Marine Energy Conference 2020 Book of Abstracts Rojas M., J., Meza, C. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Salinity Gradient, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind
A framework to evaluate the environmental impact of OCEAN energy devices Mendoza, E., Lithgow, D., Flores, P. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions
Study of the currentology of Moroccan facades and assessment of the marine energy potential for the fight against the impact of climate changes Hariss, S., Saifaoui, D., Hilmi, K. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Climate Change
Advanced Environmental Monitoring for Marine Renewable Energy Cotter, E. Thesis Ocean Current, Wave Collision, Noise Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
On the Marine Energy Resources of Mexico Hernández-Fontes, J., Felix, A., Mendoza, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Salinity Gradient, Wave Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
DTOceanPlus Apolonia, M., Simas, T., Fonseca, F. Research Study Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave
Increased integration between innovative ocean energy and the EU habitats, species and water protection rules through Maritime Spatial Planning van Hees, S. Journal Article Wave, Tidal, Salinity Gradient, Ocean Current, Marine Energy Marine Spatial Planning, Legal & Policy, Human Dimensions
ETIP Ocean Simas, T., Cruz, E. Research Study Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave EMF, Noise
Power Take-Off System for a Subsea Tidal Kite D6.2 - Environmental Impact Report Kregting, L., Schmitt, P., Lieber, L. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Marine Mammals
Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub Greaves, D. Research Study Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Climate Change, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
IHI Ocean Current Turbine IHI Corporation Project Site Marine Energy, Ocean Current
Optimising multiple multibeam sonars to assess marine life interactions with an underwater kite Lieber, L., Nilsen, T., Zambrano, C. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Ocean Current Collision Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
Integration of wave energy and other marine renewable energy sources with the needs of coastal societies Manasseh, R., Sannasiraj, S., McInnes, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Wave, Tidal, OTEC, Fixed Offshore Wind, Ocean Current, Marine Energy Social & Economic Data, Human Dimensions
Noise Generated from an Array of Current Energy Converters Halfa, E., Johnson, C., Johnson, E. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Ocean Current Noise
Interaction between instream axial flow hydrokinetic turbines and uni-directional flow bedforms Hill, C., Musa, M., Guala, M. Journal Article Tidal, Ocean Current, Marine Energy Physical Environment
Marine Energy Research and Innovation Centre (MERIC) Chilean Ministry of Energy , CORFO , Enel Green Power , Naval Energies , Pontifical Catholic University of Chile Project Site Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind
Sustainable deployment of Marine Current Energy in Indonesia Ramachandran, R., Takagi, K. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Ocean Current Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement
National Geodatabase of Ocean Current Power Resource in USA Yang, X., Haas, K., Fritz, H. Journal Article Ocean Current, Marine Energy
Variability in the Florida Current: Implications for Power Generation Hanson, H., Smentek-Duerr, A., VanZwieten Jr., J. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Power Generation Using the Kuroshio Current IHI Corporation Report Ocean Current, Marine Energy
Modeling Impacts of Energy Extraction from the Gulf Stream System Haas, K., Yang, X., Fritz, H. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Ocean Current Changes in Flow Physical Environment
Will Ocean Energy Harm Marine Ecosystems? Hammar, L. Research Study Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment
Modelling South African Agulhas Marine Current Profile Data for Electricity Generation Williams, A., Nthontho, M., Chowdhury, S. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Ocean Current
Building Capacity for Marine Hydrokinetic Energy: Atlas of Potential Synergistic and Conflicting Environmental, Ecological, and Human Use Considerations Dubbs, L., Voss, C., Von Korff, B. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Chemicals, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Human Dimensions
Displaying 1 - 40 of 57 results