Question

What are the limitations of the energy that can be obtained from the oceans?

Answer 1

The forms of energy that can be obtained from the ocean are tidal energy, wave energy, and ocean thermal energy.

1. Tidal energy: A form of hydro-power that converts the energy obtained from tides into useful forms of power, similar to electricity.
2. Wave energy: A form of renewable energy that can be harnessed from the motion of the waves.
3. Ocean thermal energy: The energy available due to the difference in the temperature of water at the upper surface and the deeper layers of the ocean is known as ocean thermal energy.

Limitations of harnessing energy from the ocean:

1. High tidal power plant construction costs because they need to be incredibly sturdy to withstand the force of the sea.
2. To harness ocean thermal energy efficiently, the difference in the temperature of surface water (hot) and the water at depth (cold) must be $20º\mathrm{C}$ or more.
3. Negative influence on marine life forms
4. Limits arising from the location due to limited availability of sites with sufficiently high tidal ranges or flow velocities. Very strong waves are required to obtain electricity from wave energy.
5. Tidal energy depends on the relative positioning of the Earth, moon, and Sun.
6. The variable intensity of sea waves.