Ocean Current energy resource

Ocean Current energy refers to kinetic energy flowing in the seawater, focusing on the comparatively stable flowing in the watercourse of sea floor and the channel, as well as the regular movement of seawater resulted by the tidal. The amount of current energy is direct proportion to the square and runoff. Comparing with wave energy, current energy is likely to be changed in a more stable and regular way. The dimension and direction of current energy will be changed along with the floor tide and ebb tide of the tidal. General speaking, for the watercourse with the largest flow rate more than 2m/s, its current energy is be of great value to be developed.

It is theoretically estimated that the potential of current energy in the world is about in the scale of 10⁸kW. Estimation shows that the annual average power for current energy is 1.4´10⁷kW in theory in the coastal area of China, according to the survey and analysis information from China 130 coastal watercourse survey stations. Current energy abounds in the coastal area in Liaoning, Shandong, Zhejiang, Fujian and Taiwan provinces. Part of watercourse obtains the power density of 15-30 kW/m², which is of great significance to be developed. It is worthy to point out that China belongs to one of the largest power density in current energy in the world, particularly in watercourse in Jianyong, Guishan and Xihoumen of Zhejiang province, with average power density of more than 20 kW/m², which is favorable for the development environment and condition.