Priority Projects for Development
Of the New and Renewable Energy in China

Ocean Energy Technology

1.        Background

In recent years, development and utilization of tidal energy in the world has got comparative growth. Only in France, former Soviet Union, Canada and South Korea, installed capacity of tidal power stations, which have been completed or will be completed reached more than 660,000KW. At present, development on tidal energy in the world tends to be larger scale. For example, the Meijin tidal power station in Russia is planned with the design capacity of 15.2 million KW and the Tuguer tidal power station is 10.3 million kW. The Saiwen tidal power station in the United States is planned with the design capacity of 7.2 million KW, and the Kanbell Bay tidal power station of 7.36 million KW.

China has a history of 40 years in development of tidal energy. So far, it has set up 8 tidal power stations with a total installed capacity of 6120KW, of which, the biggest is the Jiangxia tidal experiment power station in Zhejiang Province, with an installed capacity of 3200KW, operated in 1980, and five generating plants connected to grid in 1985. Our country can manufacture the bulb cross-flow-type hydroelectric generating sets with single machine capacity of 500KW and 700 kW. Practice has proved that China has a sound foundation of tidal power generating technology.

The development and research on wave energy in the world has appeared rising tendency in recent years after 1970s¡¯ flourishing and 1980s¡¯ low ebb. The characteristics are to pay attention to construction of installations and accumulation of maritime operation experience. The stress was to turn the small and medium size development from the very beginning to large-scale utilization, and to supply of power to islands. Wave power generation in China began in 1970s. Micro wave-power generating installations for sunlight navigation lights have become commercialized and 290 sets have been produced. Cooperating with Japan, China has also manufactured back-bent-tube buoy power generating sets. The first 3 kW generating set of the seashore fixed-type wave power station was successfully manufactured in Dawan Island at the mouth of the Pearl River. 

The research on tidal current power generation in China was in the leading position. At the end of 1970s, China first made a principle experiment of the 8KW tidal current power generating set. During the 1980s, experiment and research have been carrying out on the vertical-shaft self-regulation straight- vane hydroelectric generating sets.

2.        Objectives

Settle key technical problems for setting up ten thousand kilowatt grade tidal power stations. Manufacture hundred kilowatt grade wave power generating sets combining with the construction of experiment bases with comprehensive development and utilization of the new resources in islands. Research and development on practical utilization technology of ocean-energy.

3.        Content

• Research on hydroelectric generating sets for tidal power stations, including ultra-low-head and high capacity tidal power generating sets, marine hydro engineering structure and construction techniques.

• Experiment base construction of comprehensive utilization of new energy in islands.

•  Research on the technology of energy and electricity storage and thermoelectricity generating.