A Preliminary Consideration on the Expansion of Ocean Renewable Energy in Japanese EEZ

Abstract

Reduction of a 25% in greenhouse gas emission by 2020 is written in Japanese basic acts against global warming. Utilization of ocean renewable energy starts getting attention. A preliminary consideration on the expansion of ocean renewable energy utilization is shown in this paper. The obtained energy in a year per unit area for various ocean renewable energy devices is estimated. The required area is one of important indexes for evaluating the possibility of renewable energy devices. Other indexes such as the energy profit ratio, the cost and the typical weight of devices are also estimated, and the possibility on expansion of ocean energy utilization is discussed. Summarizing these results, it is found that Japanese exclusive economic zone has a considerable potential for ocean renewable energy. A closed system of an ocean renewable energy generation for the fishery industry in a remote island is proposed as for the first stage of deployment of the devices. In addition, further expansion of the ocean renewable energy utilization is discussed.