Marine area has different energy resources like wave energy, tidal energy, Ocean Thermal Energy, current energy, marine biomass etc. Present day attention is on solar and wind energy, since the technology has developed for commercialization and they are cost competitive to conventional power production. Technology is developing for ocean energy extraction. One of the attractions in ocean energy extraction is that the investment is not only for energy conversion but also for other benefits and by-products. For example, wave energy devices can be used as coastal protection structures (Example to protect Qaru island in Kuwait against erosion), tidal barrages for causeways connecting two locations (Example bridging between Kuwait City and Sabiya), marine biomass production site as nursery for many marine lives, Ocean thermal energy conversion along with aquaculture and cooling systems by using cold seawater derived from deep oceans etc. Kuwait has about 7611 km2 (82201.28 ft2) of marine water area. It has more than 1000 MW of tidal power potential, especially in the northern part. It also has appreciable order of wave power in the southern part of its territorial water and around the islands like Qaru, Umm Al-Maradem etc. It also has few hundred MW of power from marine currents, especially in the northern part and many thousand MW of power using the temperature difference between the sea water and warm air in summer. Some marine locations, like Kuwait Bay has wind power density of 78 Watt/m2 (7.22 Watt/ft2) for more than 50% of the time in a year at 45 m (147.89 ft) elevation from the mean sea level. A preliminary resource assessment is carried out for assessing these marine power potential for Kuwaiti territorial waters. Marine power extraction has added benefits. For example, building floating wave energy absorbers and placing them around the islands has more positive impacts. Installing tidal barriers to tap tidal power from the Kuwait bay may reduce the water exchange between the Kuwait bay and the Arabian Gulf but the barrage can be used as causeway between Kuwait city and Sabiya. Building tidal power plant in Khor Sabiya area may reduce the water circulation but may help in controlling the siltation problems encountered by Sabiya power plant’s seawater intake and hence help to save millions of KD spent every year for dredging activity. This conceptual paper gives clear base line guidance on the marine power potential of Kuwaiti territorial waters.
Citation: 6th International Conference on Energy Research and Development, State of Kuwait, March 14–16, 2016
Product Details
- Published:
- 2016
- Number of Pages:
- 8
- Units of Measure:
- Dual
- File Size:
- 1 file , 2.3 MB
- Product Code(s):
- D-ICER16-16
