Marine Renewable Energy

This complete reference to marine renewable energy covers aspects of resource characterization and physical effects of harvesting the ocean’s vast and powerful resources—from wave and tidal stream to ocean current energy. Experts in each of these areas contribute their insights to provide a cohesive overview of the marine renewable energy spectrum based on theoretical, numerical modeling, and field-measurement approaches. They provide clear explanations of the underlying physics and mechanics, and give close consideration to practical implementation aspects, including impacts on the physical system. Engineers, researchers, and students alike will find invaluable tools and studies that will aid them in realizing significant sustainable energy production from near-shore and ocean environments.

Author Biography

Dr. Zhaoqing Yang is a Chief Scientist for coastal ocean modeling at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and is a Distinguished Faculty Fellow in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington. His research covers broad areas related to coastal hydrodynamics and transport processes using advanced numerical models, with a focus on marine renewable energy resource assessment and the impacts of extreme events and anthropogenic disturbances on coastal infrastructure and ecosystems. Dr. Yang leads PNNL’s modeling effort on wave and tidal stream energy resource characterization, as well as the environmental impact assessment associated with marine energy development. His professional involvement includes serving as a member of the Journal of Renewable Energy Editorial Board, on the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council’s Committee on Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy Assessment and on the Advisory Committee of International Conference of Estuarine and Coastal Modeling. Dr. Yang holds a Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography from the School of Marine Sciences at the College of William and Mary.

Dr. Andrea Copping is a Senior Research Scientist and Program Manager at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and is a Distinguished Faculty Fellow in the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of Washington. Dr. Copping’s research focuses on the environmental effects of the development of wave and tidal energy and of offshore wind installations, and on the role that these effects play in technology development and project initiation across the nation. Dr. Copping leads international projects under International Energy Agency agreements on the environmental effects of marine energy development (Annex IV) and of wind (WREN) that share environmental effects information, enabling researchers to benefit from progressmade around the world. Prior to joining PNNL, Dr. Copping was the Associate Director of the Washington Sea Grant Program. Although trained as a blue water biological oceanographer, she has spent most of her career examining the interactions of humans and the marine environment. Her professional involvement includes serving as an Associate Editor of the Coastal Management Journal and on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Marine Energy. Dr. Copping holds a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from the University of Washington.