Why wave power isn't everywhere (yet)

The oceans, that cover most of the planet, are full of energy. So much, in fact, that if we could harness that of all the waves, we'd fulfill global demand three times over. There's just one small problem: No one has figured out exactly how to make this work long-term. But we could be on the cusp of sea change.
Author: Aditi Rajagopal
Camera: Florian Kroker
Video Editor: Henning Goll
Supervising Editor: Kiyo Dörrer, Joanna Gottschalk
We're destroying our environment at an alarming rate. But it doesn't need to be this way. Our channel explores the shift towards an eco-friendly world - and challenges our ideas about what dealing with climate change means. We look at the big and the small: What we can do and how the system needs to change. Every Friday we'll take a truly global look at how to get us out of this mess.
#PlanetA #WaveEnergy #WavePower
Read More:
Outlook for the industry: www.irena.org/-/media/Files/I... and www.oceanenergy-europe.eu/wp-...
Experimental designs:
eng.ox.ac.uk/news/research-in... and www.ukri.org/news/projects-to...
Join the wave energy club:
waveenergyclub.org
Special thanks to the following (for background interviews):
Lisa MacKenzie and Matthew Finn and the European Marine Energy Centre (www.emec.org.uk/)
Rémi Gruet at Ocean Energy Europe (www.oceanenergy-europe.eu)
Burke Hale at Oregon State University
George Hagerman at Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography
Tobias Voelkel and Doris Froitzheim at Sinn Power
Danielle Bilik and Inna Braverman at Eco Wave Power
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:11 The complexity of waves
02:52 How to tame a wave
04:12 The industry's crests and troughs
06:17 Waves work when others crash
07:27 Wave power today
10:28 Conclusion

[@DWPlanetA]

What do you think the future holds for wave power?

[@tejasam1]

Making electricity with river currents is much easier because the waves are always in one direction, just stick a turbine for every few feet, Germany has many rivers

[@nkanyisoinnocentkhwane3752]

This video made me a little more hopeful, personally I'm invested in Solar since I'm just an individual

[@greenhippie5360]

I think maybe there could be a future for use of this technology in large freshwater lakes. I know there aren't many of them in the world, but I'm assuming the lack of salt would reduce the upkeep required, and if we have any chance of switching to 100% green energy each population needs to work with what they have available in their part of the world. Of course it would also be great if the designs could be adapted to work in smaller bodies of water like rivers and small lakes.

[@WarriorD13]

So the plan is that we proposition oil and gas companies that have Mining rights to the Sea area to let you implant these generators that could collect and generate energy to send to the mainland through Cable Systems through their piping system that they're already equipped with an or able to perform, then get them to slowly convert over into it primarily and buying more areas to do more of them? First ones to get on board and start working it into their company win 🏆

[@Joe90V]

As your report says, they haven't settled on the most cost effective method yet, but when they finally decide I expect coastal governments to invest heavily especially seeing the fallout from the russian mistake.

[@zacharygirgenti3790]

Excellent coverage and I enjoyed learning about all of the different designs. The narrator brings an energy that makes these difficult topics a little more palatable.

[@dipakpanakhaniya9172]

We need diverse sources of energy to reduce impacts on ecosystem.

[@ericolens3]

I wish wind ships could be used for freight 🤣 🤣 🤣 Just think of a hybrid freight ship that could reduce the fuel need/boost the efficiency of the fuel.... Sadly idk if the space needed for sails would be desirable.

[@tiro0oO5]

@@ericolens3 the concept here is kites in front of the ship that fly in 8 patterns. There is (was?) a company that commercialized this and claimed up zo 20% fuel reduction. But the cost are still higher, so …

[@garethbaus5471]

It also reduces the chances of the grid failing if any one energy source falters for some reason.

[@traybern]

STFU with your DIVERSITY BULLCRAP!!!!! We HAVE SIX BILLION YEARS of GODDAM FREE solar AND WIND. RIGHT NOW!!! AS WELL as ALL the technology to NECESSARY to USE them!!!

[@traybern]

@@ericolens3 SAILS on cargo ships ALREADY can reduce fuel use by 20%!!!

[@pappk.962]

these videos are awesome in every way thanks everyone who's contributing these. There's so many things going on in the world, but you can find good subjects i've never even heard of, and collect really informative material which must be hard work

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

I think that what’s held wave power back is how much it overlaps with wind power. Locations with lots of waves also have lots of wind so they’re a great location for wind turbines. But locations on land with no waves can STILL have lots of wind power! I think this has lead to more investment money going toward wind because you can have more places to put your tech. I predict that, as progressing with wind tech starts to level off, we’ll see more investment go into wave energy.

[@greenhippie5360]

Maybe these areas can use a little bit of both? Every form of energy conversion/capture has an impact on the environment in some way (even green energy) but if there are a variety of different methods used, the overall impact could be reduced resulting in a healthier overall environment.

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

@@greenhippie5360 yea, I definitely think that’s what will ultimately happen. And I have even seen at least one work up which is offshore wind turbines with wave generators built in….I’m just trying to explain why it seems like wind generation advanced so much more quickly than wave generation over the last 20 years.

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

@@SeeNickView yea, I expect we’ll see a massive wave of that taking off and getting out on all the offshore farms that we’ve built.

[@ericolens3]

Its bad enough to displace the waters for nature with wind turbines, then we'd add insult to injury by using the space between for wave turbines. I could be wrong.... but the way I see it. Land use, air use, and water usages are a bit different. An acre of land is ALL yours. And cubic unit of air is kinda reserved for limited utility but still has time spacing to prevent overlapping air craft. Water usage is mostly on a surface plane, but also has considerations that must be made for the sea floor and waters between the two. Idk how much of a preexisting maritime laws there are for occupying all the air above the water with wind turbines, then also filling in the space between with wave turbines. That is UNLESS. We use less space and make the energy generation plants more dense to lower the overall sprawling of energy products plants. It would still be catastrophic for marine life but at least there would be zoning like we do for land use. Commercial, residential, industrial. And just ensure that certain coastal areas are NOT used for energy farming no matter how windy and productive they are. In short, I'd love for the two to be hybridized if that would lower the overall sprawling that wind turbine farms tend to have. Energy production density would be the ultimate better goal for both humans and nature.... especially since these are clean energies. And the maintenance would be easier with less sprawling. (Right? Less milage between each turbine?)

[@garethbaus5471]

Sharing locations, power lines, and maintenance schedules with wind turbines could bring down costs.

[@Zemaj]

A timely, relevant, researched and well-presented piece of journalism, Aditi.

[@screamingbirdheart]

I recently finds out that in the Netherlands, they designed a wave dam. Decades ago. It cost around 20 billion euros to build and will deliver around 50% of the energy the Netherlands need. With a expected lifespan of more than a hundred years. If anyone can build great waterworks it is the Dutch. So it bevels me that the government doesn't pay the approximately 40 billion needed to be a 100% self-sustaining in the energy department. 🤔 build a couple of them more and you can be a big player in the energy transition and selling it to other countries.

[@ericolens3]

Upfront capitol may be its very problem Idk the GDP of Netherlands but billions is normally the figure used, idk i could be off since the last time I looked at GDPs for other nations was back around 2007. Now millionaires is more common, celebs are pushing 100s millionaires, and billionaires are also more common too (well at least a 100 people in the world are billionaire, INDIVIDUALS are billionaires not just the net worth of companies but people themselves)

[@harukrentz435]

the cost is 20 billions though! and it was decades ago....

[@tjeulink]

@@ericolens3 the dutch deltaworks costed 20% of the dutch gdp. 40 billion would be 4% of the current gdp (1 trillion)

[@Peteamareet]

I love ckean reliable wave energy. I don't know why so few people mention it. I am very glad to hear some positive press for it. Thankyou

[@itscherry5402]

thank you for your work!

[@mahatmagaand]

Aditi is the best. Love from Kerala, India.

[@blue280485]

Well presented 👍 Fun Trivia, what does DW mean/stand-for 🤔 Deutsche Welle translated to German Wave 🌊 🙂

[@whywhatwherein]

This was a nice piece on the topic.

[@AlokMishraSingapore]

Excellent and informative film Aditi. I see great potential in smaller plants targeted towards archipelago nations like The Philippines and Indonesia. 👍🏼

[@tiro0oO5]

Yes, that could work. But these islands also have sun and wind, so why not use these much cheaper technologies?

[@harukrentz435]

@@tiro0oO5 Indonesia and The Philippines are using geothermal reactor energy, both are no 2 and 3 biggest geothermal producers in the world after the US.

[@tiro0oO5]

@@harukrentz435 true true I forgot to list geothermy.

[@corpowerocean7527]

Nice commentary. Wave energy is certainly the next big thing in energy. It can plug the voids of wind and solar, delivering a stable zero-carbon mix in a way few other alternatives can!!

[@Ashwekar]

5:15 That was absolutely the correct course of action and continues to be so

[@ariadgaia5932]

It's about damn time! :D Thank you for spreading such hopeful news!

[@atigang]

A good video. Thank you.

[@Saraseeksthompson0211]

If they found ways to integrate these into the ecosystems and lives of the animals and plants around them, they could really help change renewable energy.

[@AdriMul]

The content is great. The accent is absolutely fine and even refreshing. Please ignore the uneducated haters that are saying otherwise.

[@hd-xc2lz]

I couldn't find one negative comment about her accent.

[@tonyrobinson1349]

Great presentation, funny and engaging.

[@zaharaddeenkaramilawal4994]

As someone who doing research on wave energy. I have really learn a lot. Wave power or ocean or marine energy have come to stay due to the high demand of energy, and a shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy due to 2050 net-zero plan.

[@khaledalusaimi3094]

Speaking about this video thumbnail , I believe a single wave of the great wave of Kanagawa will power the world 🌊 💪

[@chrislloyd261]

I love the idea 💡

[@hollish196]

I think the current energy problems created by conflict are going to force all of Europe to very seriously address new ways to power their countries. Wave power sure seems to be a part of this solution.

[@ericolens3]

Yeah, Europe needs a form of clean local energy. Im not too versed on it, but no country should be more than 70% dependent on another for energy supply.

[@n.g.s1mple29]

@@ericolens3 nuclear seems like the way to go tbh.

[@DWPlanetA]

@@n.g.s1mple29 We've done a video about nuclear energy before: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4mTYZSiZqumoK8 - let us know what you think of the video in the comments section.

[@girishk7003]

Anyone else in love with her voice ? 😍

[@tejasam1]

You can make electricity with river currents, electricity is also called current in some parts of the world

[@jcarey568]

Yes! Can Planet A look into micro-hydro systems?

[@ericolens3]

NO just no. Rivers are delicate little things.

[@tejasam1]

@@ericolens3 rivers are massive they are thousands of miles long

[@bltzcstrnx]

​@@ericolens3 time to build massive dams and high capacity hydro power plant.

[@Rayji10]

Based on what I know of the subject, Ocean energy will probably be harvested by using a combination of various types of techniques, and so, wave energy is just a more predictable way to do it. Things probably will change in the future as these technologies consolidate and the costs goes lower.

[@ConstantChaos1]

Using them on wave breaks is genius they will further dampen the waves increasing the life of the wave break and it will generate energy, i love when things work so well together

[@noahway13]

04:29 He has done a deep dive into ocean wave technology. = )

[@robertskolimowski7049]

Great content, many thanks 👏 It's always been the 'competitors' powerful enough to simply block the developments of any solutions that can be better, healthier and cheaper.

[@janardhaniah8323]

Wave energy is an excellent energy source because it is a clean and sustainable. But the biggest problem is the lack of a better frequency caused by the waves' uneven movements, low speed, and high pulsating forces. But we have a solution to integrate every amount of wave motion in a step-by-step manner to provide a continuous rotation, in the form of a single rotational output at the delivery shaft that can rotate a Powerful Alternator. A planetary gear set can integrate two inputs at a time without any torque loss. It has also been proven in hybrid car technology.

[@joyx6341]

wave power, it is not that often we hear about this renewable, interesting option

[@nawinmutti4091]

Thank you so much. Get work

[@arthurmacalpine233]

In the western US, huge parts of Wyoming, Colorado, etc have been blighted by ugly wind farms with blinking red lights that look hellish at night.

[@12kenbutsuri]

I love how DW is naively positive and optimistic.

[@paytonpryor]

Why did the closed captions automatically pop up for this video? I have no problem understanding the speaker.

[@magdatrzaskayoga]

Is it possible to add French and Italian subtiles? Would be amazing too add to the educational materials for secondary school pupils that I am working on :)

[@catchAbreath]

it is amazing that waves can generate power and electricity. I think it is similar idea or infrastructure to dam in terms of generating power by using the strength of water.

[@ANJA-mj1to]

To summarize mine point of view point : the evolution of wave power as well as delivery of "on - site" equipment for planty projects is top item of renewable energy in global 💙💦

[@rogerespejo6260]

Indeed the sector is gaining traction. Reliability and survivability are the priorities now. Thereafter affordability.

[@berandal99]

Indonesia has the longest coastline in the world with more than 17000 islands. This country is as big as Europe and most of it is sea. So, I think the highest chance this technology could be economically feasible is in Indonesia. Right now, Indonesia is focusing on building hydro-electric dam (because a lot of rivers) and geo-thermal (positive side of sit on the ring of fire) as it's green energy choice till 2024. Maybe tidal energy could be next if the technology is mature enough after 2024.

[@stickynorth]

Let a hundred flowers bloom! Or in this case a hundred turbines flow! As long as it replaces carbon-intensive sources, I'm for it! Nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, wave/tidal, OTEC...

[@DWPlanetA]

Thanks, Ian! We hope that you've hit that subscribe button because we can guarantee that all those topics will be covered on this channel.

[@kakshi6312]

Can't we put a coat of plastic waste on the metals, to prevent the corrosion??

[@knutvikstromprecht4094]

Tidal energy should have huge potential, and be even more reliable than waves, right? Just the idea of turbines in a little canal, where the tidal flows go up and down twice a day, seems so obvious. Does anyone know if and how that’s possible? Or is it already in operation?

[@hanzee9008]

👍👍👍 opportunity for better energy

[@abdalsamehmuhammad5687]

Yes

[@mikemiller5856]

Ocean Energy is the future and most efficient green form of energy we have and are not using. We are making this a lot more complicated than it has to be. In my spare time I've created a basic model that creates as much energy as the Hoover Dam, 100X less cost and with minimal enviromental impact.

[@wizardofoz1390]

Fantastic future

[@BrainCandyforHamsters]

You holding the hair dryer over the water made me anxious.

[@ingeranneamundsen7722]

Amazing that waves can generate power and electricity

[@arturprivat8180]

I think it's start slowly, we need an alternative to the rest even to wind and solar so yeah. I think this is then the next big thing.

[@tiro0oO5]

Why?

[@NotUwU-_-]

Make v shape construction for wave, and put rotor to the end of v shape

[@navylaks2]

Wavestar have so far suggested the best solution, but they went bankrupt

[@vthilton]

Save Our Planet

[@harukrentz435]

this could be the cleanest and most sustainable energy humanity ever achieved.

[@ractmo]

No nuclear energy is the epitome, just have to take care of the waste

[@arnold9098]

Time has come... The host has beautiful eyes.. Wave Future

[@jcarey568]

To answer your question with a quote from Joe Scott (from the Answers with Joe channel), "Yes! We need all the things. I'm on 'Team All-The-Things.'" Of course, he was talking about utilizing a myriad of clean technologies that can be integrated into different environments where they are best suited. There will be no one magic panacea to solve the current energy/climate crisis.

[@LucGauthier-ul9kg]

Please use that waves power for electrolysis, the product ‘hydrogen’ could be used for many appliances. Cars. for example, could operate pollution free. Wouldn’t that be great.

[@naidusreemaan5045]

6:25 is the moon really that huge in that location??????? 🥺

[@michaellanoue9156]

Thank you. It’s very promising. Wind, however, is not the only factor in wave energy. The changes in the tides twice a day are thanks to the moon.

[@alanmarr3323]

Portugal has wave power!

[@loneforest6541]

Huge potential....more investment needed here, not in weapon of destruction.

[@Roberto-cm6iz]

Ships could have inside big not salty water deposits with oscillating generators taking advantage from the sea movement.

[@seancollins1958]

Good video, well presented and produced but everything you put into the sea will degrade in a short time without constant maintenance. In a word it will never work on a big scale economically. As you said one government is paying money to find out where others went wrong.

[@ericmaclaurin8525]

Consistency and reliability is best achieved with diversity. Government should focus on building ocean transmission lines that also work as wildlife habitat. Then industry can build various technologies. We could get unlimited fresh water and power while creating new habitat in a single Government project that in turn enables businesses of all sizes to solve problems. Wave, wind and solar can all combine using the same structures.

[@HKYT649]

cool

[@allanjboysen2491]

My opinion is let's start closer to home, it keep's the price down from a logistics expence view. Low lying fruit. And that is to harness the tides, this can be closed circuit too, but is less efficient. We want buoyancy and swell's bigger is better, with two function's to pump up to a tower when electric pump's have acess and turbine coming down. Day has the array of solar in between twice daily, lined to fire with the grid. Barges for piles raising like the 'Blue Marlin'[a sea vessel] into position. If we can reclaim ship's as watertank's instead of scrap metal, refurb top floor's to water tank's before demolishing on the same principal, we might help the grid out considerably. Don't destroy watertank's also, they might cover ev future surges. Potential energy is the layman battery, good honest green job's with a future, not fairy-tale speculation. The technology is proven. Blueprints for a sustainable future. By all indication's, the will is there? Cant say you we're not informed. Only time will tell it got thru.

[@DWPlanetA]

Hi Allan, have you seen our video regarding tidal power? You can watch it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z16VhayBprVratE - let us know what you think in the comments section 🙂 🌍

[@Faithful_Servant1]

I got scared at 0:54 🤣

[@user-eu4vl3lu3e]

Wave generation with horizontal axis wind turbines ©️ protected 2023

[@user-yb5zv3fr4v]

deep ocean currents😃 more energy than we can absorb

[@luofenghuang8015]

I think a main issue is material fatigue

[@chrislloyd261]

Make a funnel system

[@jobvida]

Yes wave power will have its greater share in the near future . I have the design that will be a standard commercial version. I'm Just waiting for my finances to accumulate.

[@DelfinoGarza77]

Yes, but I think these devices should be changed out for new ones as old ones degrade. Also these devices should power and create the machines that build the replacements. So it's a self perpetuating.

[@chrnb]

The biggest benefit is non-need for land use.

[@tarottman3926]

I'm sure these inventions of harnessing wave power use alot less mental and would need less maintenance than these huge wind turbines as the propellers are as long as a plane wing and with the damage to birds and the noise they create are way worse.

[@dk1969nco]

Yes - There will within 5 to 10years come new solution to wave power machines. Wave power is a huge untapped resource so far.

[@dominickestello9076]

Energy sources will guide the world in future.

[@llort42]

Carbon fiber externals would solve all or most of the "wear & tear" asset devaluements

[@UberMick]

Here's a fun fact, new sea craft such as super yachts are now required to have no anchor because they disturb the sea floor, instead they use GPS and several small positioning thrusters to maintain their position. This to me, as a lover of the ocean, seems reasonable. So how can we demand new ships/ boats not be allowed anchors, yet ocean based wind farms, wave power and tidal power facilities that all require MASSIVE concrete foundations is considered acceptable? Seems like an ideological double standard.

[@PrashantKumar-kk6vs]

wave energy is the future.......

[@adrianthoroughgood1191]

When the wind isn't blowing don't the waves stop as well?

[@DWPlanetA]

Hey there! Even when the wind is not blowing, the waves do not just stop. While they may stop growing, they continue to move. Additionally, the behavior of waves can be well predicted through the use of satellite data on wind patterns.

[@apurvmj]

Twerking duck energy

[@robfritz841]

More wave/tidal power! 🌏🇺🇳🇺🇸🇺🇦🚜🌻

[@timekeeper2117]

More geothermal? might🌋 gain us🌍 valuable time to get better at wave energy collection.🤷.

[@alllbw]

Y'all forgot to name the guy in the blue shirt

[@ilaibavati6941]

A drop in the ocean

[@neddyladdy]

But wave power is everywhere, in the oceans and seas, in the air in the form of electromagnetic waves, gravity waves permeate everything.

[@xhevitkuci5026]

wawe energy is infinity .with an just projekt .l heave it .

[@outsidestuff5283]

First time I've ever heard a non-Brit absolutely nail the word Edinburgh haha

[@ericolens3]

Ed in burr uh?

[@ericolens3]

Ed in burg

[@SuperMike-WonderWendy]

Less people less power ,fuel,food ,water , etc. Population control would do more for the worlds energy needs and food shortage , dieses, extinctions, etc

[@Karmator]

You are right but this isn't something that we can fix even in a few decade's time...it is a natural process... and if you see the birth rate of most countries over the last 50 years or so...you'll see a rapid decline. So the birth rate is falling as economies develop slowly but it'll take at least 100-150 years for the population to actually start going down. Till then we need to find other ways of solving our problems :D

[@SuperMike-WonderWendy]

@@Karmator if the number of people went down over the year we wouldn't still be doin deforestation to make room for more homes and more cattle farms and more crops .

[@Karmator]

@@SuperMike-WonderWendy how do you wanna accomplish that? Destroy health care development and kill people who are already alive and living? Try to think my guy...change takes time 😂

[@greenhippie5360]

It's complicated...

[@ericolens3]

I wish Thanos could save this planet. But sadly we cant just magically snap our fingers. If I could I'd love to drop the birth rate down to 1.5. (Some can have 2 kids, or more if they are rich enough. Otherwise 1 or less to counter balance the wealthy with more than 1 kid.) Idk maybe rich can have 3. Middle class can have 2. And poor can have 1. Its pretty much to ensure that proper care is afforded to the children. If you NEED the government to provide basic needs then you shouldn't have several kids in your home. THATS A FLAG PEOPLE!! (I dont want to get into my birth control opinions, since Id make enemies with the liberals, conservatives, as well as the mega populated countries like China and India.) But in short. We definitely need a lot less people on this planet. Like 25 or more years ago. Maybe its the boom of the baby boomers or the following generation since it compounded with all their new boomer's kids now of age also having so many kids. Idk if its just me but every time my brother came back from a tour the wife had a new child. No joke. So its still a boom in the population from the vets returning from tours. And whats worse is they dont have the same phobia of children draining the already limited resources since they dont have the looming debt of college loans over their heads. (5 kids people. 5 i say.. a car has only 3 rear seats, he now must buy a gas guzzling full size suv with 23 highway/18 city or else get a mini van. Rather than even consider a fuel efficient 4 door sedan. And then each child will still need their own vehicle as they come of age to drive.) So yeah population control is definitely needed.

[@justayoutuber1906]

Just leave wave power out of stadiums.

[@tiro0oO5]

I love renewables, but the point of wavepower is beyond me. Tidal wave generators harvest the tidal forces and offshore wind the wind energy. Without wind no waves, so it is a redundant source, i.e. There is no „diversity“ in the energy mix. The effort and maintainance are so high, I am not convinced it is a good idea. And the fact that the only commercial viable oppertunities are oil and gas rigs … well

[@rolletroll2338]

DW is trying so hard right now to push any irdiulous idea to legimitate the shut down of nuclear power makes me cringe. « What do we do when there is no sun and wind » hum hum, I don’t know, I have an idea but this is a forbidden word on this channel.

[@mikeylau2830]

Dipak like your comment

[@ianmyles9025]

Because Tidal power is more predictable..........for 100's of years - less so for Waves.

[@samtortell3680]

Good video but the music is really distracting I'd tone it down a bit

[@sarcasmo57]

I invented a stadium completely powered by Mexican waves.

[@nitaj3831]

Wolf vid

[@Tac495]

There should be a company that pays people to generate energy MANUALLY, there are plenty of people on earth that need jobs… how we would generate energy manually though?? 🤷‍♂️

[@Orion46070]

Skusit polozit na vodu srobovicovu turbynu malo byto byt tiez jedno z rieseni treba viskusat .