90
D. Ghose et al.
suitable to harvest both wind energy as well as wave energy, while Payyambalam,
Kappad, Varkala and Kovalam were found to be suited just for ocean wind energy.
Beypore and Alappuzha beaches were found to be suitable sources of wave energy
from the ocean.
Kerala is affected by two major ocean currents, the Arabian Current and the Indian
Equatorial Current. While the Arabian Current has a speed of around 7 knots, the
Equatorial Current has an average speed of above 3 knots; both of which are much
greater than the minimum considered current value of around 0.5 ms
1 . Hence, it
brings us to an easy conclusion that the entire shoreline of Kerala which confronts
the aforementioned currents can be considered to harness energy from ocean currents.
The tidal range of all the Kerala beaches however was found to touch a maximum
of 1.11 m, which is way below the prescribed and considered a minimum of 2 m.
As a result of this, harnessing tidal energy along the Keralian shoreline could be
considered a less profitable and less efficient investment, and if the other sources are
catered properly, it can even be avoided.
Minimum current speeds of 0.5 m/s, minimum wind speeds of 4 m/s, a minimum
wave height of 1.6 m, and a minimum tidal range of 2 m was considered; all the values
having been obtained from previous works in this genre [15–19]. Equations (1), (2),
(3) and (4) can be utilized after having obtained the required values prescribed in
the mentioned equations to get a rough estimation of the total power that may be
expectantly extracted from each of the respective ocean energy source being taken
into consideration.
Strong winds of even speeds reaching as high as 9 m/s are not unusual in Kerala.
Kerala is known to face a general trend of very high wind speeds, resulting due to
which, energy from the ocean winds is an important aspect when considering the
ocean renewable energy chapter. Though the second most likely genre to invest in
the ocean energy sector in Kerala is seemingly wave energy, obtaining the energy of
waves as a source of useful power is a difficult task. Lack of research and implementation in the real world adds up to the difficulties faced. Besides, the unpredictable
nature of the oceans and the shortfall in very long-term data about the height of
waves are also major hindrances faced while considering wave energy as a source of
power. Even to date, there are limitations to the availability of data even from existing
wave farms. Thus, in general, the harnessing of wave energy gains importance once
we consider the prospects associated with ocean renewable energy. Ocean currents
though are generally a more available and accessible energy form and can be put to
utilization in an easier approach.
In general, oceans are known for their unpredictable nature. Collection and especially reliability and regular availability of data are big questions in this matter.
However, the fact that oceans are tremendous sources of energy which, if once implemented in a manner beneficial to mankind could act as a solution to numerous issues
faced today, is unquestionable. But the real implementation of the ocean as an energy
resource and detailing of procedures as to how to harness this form of energy is beyond
the scope of this study. This study simply projects the areas under consideration as
prospected sources of the four main genres of ocean renewable energy: energy from
ocean currents, energy from ocean winds, the energy of ocean tides, and energy of
D. Ghose et al.
suitable to harvest both wind energy as well as wave energy, while Payyambalam,
Kappad, Varkala and Kovalam were found to be suited just for ocean wind energy.
Beypore and Alappuzha beaches were found to be suitable sources of wave energy
from the ocean.
Kerala is affected by two major ocean currents, the Arabian Current and the Indian
Equatorial Current. While the Arabian Current has a speed of around 7 knots, the
Equatorial Current has an average speed of above 3 knots; both of which are much
greater than the minimum considered current value of around 0.5 ms
1 . Hence, it
brings us to an easy conclusion that the entire shoreline of Kerala which confronts
the aforementioned currents can be considered to harness energy from ocean currents.
The tidal range of all the Kerala beaches however was found to touch a maximum
of 1.11 m, which is way below the prescribed and considered a minimum of 2 m.
As a result of this, harnessing tidal energy along the Keralian shoreline could be
considered a less profitable and less efficient investment, and if the other sources are
catered properly, it can even be avoided.
Minimum current speeds of 0.5 m/s, minimum wind speeds of 4 m/s, a minimum
wave height of 1.6 m, and a minimum tidal range of 2 m was considered; all the values
having been obtained from previous works in this genre [15–19]. Equations (1), (2),
(3) and (4) can be utilized after having obtained the required values prescribed in
the mentioned equations to get a rough estimation of the total power that may be
expectantly extracted from each of the respective ocean energy source being taken
into consideration.
Strong winds of even speeds reaching as high as 9 m/s are not unusual in Kerala.
Kerala is known to face a general trend of very high wind speeds, resulting due to
which, energy from the ocean winds is an important aspect when considering the
ocean renewable energy chapter. Though the second most likely genre to invest in
the ocean energy sector in Kerala is seemingly wave energy, obtaining the energy of
waves as a source of useful power is a difficult task. Lack of research and implementation in the real world adds up to the difficulties faced. Besides, the unpredictable
nature of the oceans and the shortfall in very long-term data about the height of
waves are also major hindrances faced while considering wave energy as a source of
power. Even to date, there are limitations to the availability of data even from existing
wave farms. Thus, in general, the harnessing of wave energy gains importance once
we consider the prospects associated with ocean renewable energy. Ocean currents
though are generally a more available and accessible energy form and can be put to
utilization in an easier approach.
In general, oceans are known for their unpredictable nature. Collection and especially reliability and regular availability of data are big questions in this matter.
However, the fact that oceans are tremendous sources of energy which, if once implemented in a manner beneficial to mankind could act as a solution to numerous issues
faced today, is unquestionable. But the real implementation of the ocean as an energy
resource and detailing of procedures as to how to harness this form of energy is beyond
the scope of this study. This study simply projects the areas under consideration as
prospected sources of the four main genres of ocean renewable energy: energy from
ocean currents, energy from ocean winds, the energy of ocean tides, and energy of