Marine renewable energy in China: Current status and perspectives

• Main Authors: Yong-liang Zhang, Zheng Lin, Qiu-lin Liu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2014-07-01
• Series: Water Science and Engineering
• Subjects: renewable energy; tidal energy; tidal current energy; wave energy; ocean thermal energy; salinity gradient energy
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S167423701530288X

Based on a general review of marine renewable energy in China, an assessment of the development status and amount of various marine renewable energy resources, including tidal energy, tidal current energy, wave energy, ocean thermal energy, and salinity gradient energy in China's coastal seas, such as the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea, is presented. We have found that these kinds of marine renewable energy resources will play an important role in meeting China's future energy needs. Additionally, considering the uneven distribution of China's marine renewable energy and the influences of its exploitation on the environment, we have suggested several sites with great potential for each kind of marine energy. Furthermore, perspectives on and challenges related with marine renewable energy in China are addressed.