Wave
Use of Wave Energy in Hawaii
Hawaii's ocean energy potential is significant. Inventors and researchers worldwide are developing devices to convert the energy found in waves and ocean currents into electricity.
The testing and development of one type of wave energy device (Ocean Power Technologies) has been taking place in waters off Oahu's windward coast, near Kaneohe Marine Base, since 2004.
A 2.6 Megawatt Oceanlinx wave energy project has been announced for Maui. Articles:
- "3 Wave Turbines Planned for Maui Waters," Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 5, 2008
- "Wave Power Site Proposed," Maui News, February 5, 2008
- "Maui Ocean Wave-Energy Project Planned," Pacific Business News, February 4, 2008
Other wave energy developers are also interested in projects in Hawaii.
Reports
Complete list of on-line publications
Current; includes reports on renewables in general, and renewable portfolio standards, which include wave.Presentation, "The Hawaii Wave Energy Opportunity," from the 7th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC 2007), by M.H. Kaya, M. Anderson, and A.T. Gill.
Draft Summary of Permits & Permitting Processes (October 2006):
- Complete document, with all maps; 24 pages; pdf file, 8 Megabytes.
- Document in parts:
- Text only; 17 pages; pdf file; 77 kilobytes.
- State map only; 1 page; pdf file; 786 kb.
- Kauai map only; 1 page; pdf file; 826 kb.
- Kauai windward map only; 1 page; pdf file; 1,361 kb.
- Oahu map only 1 page; pdf file; 866 kb.
- Oahu windward map only 1 page; pdf file; 2,376 kb.
- Maui County map only 1 page; pdf file; 1,029 kb.
- Hawaii Island map only 1 page; pdf file; 1,139 kb.
Three documents describe Hawaii's resource and assess feasibility of wave energy projects:
- The Hawaii Wave Energy Opportunity, 2007 (5 pages; 279 kb)
- Wave Energy and Hawaii, 2006 (1 page; 66 kb)
- E2I EPRI Survey and Characterization of Potential Offshore Wave Energy Sites in Hawaii, 2004 (90 pages; 3,490 kb)
- Wave Energy Feasibility Study for Hawaii, 2002 (56 pages; 446 kb)
- Wave Energy Resource and Economic Assessment for Hawaii, 1992 (170 pages; 9,447 kb)
Links to Federal Information
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) website:
- http://www.ferc.gov/for-citizens/for-citizens.asp has a project search feature and a regional map.
- http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower.asp has information on projects which have received either preliminary permits or licenses. FERC considers ocean waves, tides and currents to be hydropower.