#时事热点头条说#
For islands or deep-sea installations far from the mainland, solving the problem of "presence or absence" is more important than the problem of "nobility".
Correct Answer Bureau Listing
Some time ago, the floating wave energy power generation device "Nankun" independently developed by the mainland was put into trial operation.
This is China's first and the world's first megawatt-class floating wave energy power generation device.
What is a wave energy power generation device?
What is the strategic significance of this "giant charging treasure"?
As we all know, under the background of energy conservation and emission reduction, all countries in the world are vigorously developing new energy.
Hydropower, wind power, solar power are typical representatives at present.
In fact, there is another way, which is ocean energy.
The ocean occupies 71% of the Earth's surface area and is rich in energy, such as tidal energy, wave energy, ocean temperature difference energy and seawater salt difference energy.
The "Nankun", which has just been put into trial operation, uses "wave energy" to generate electricity.
Wave energy, literally speaking, is the use of ocean waves to generate electricity.
There are many kinds of wave energy power generation devices, and the principle is basically the same, that is, first absorb wave energy through the wave energy capture device, and then convert the wave energy into stable output mechanical energy through the transmission mechanism, and finally use the power generation device to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Wave energy power generation method
After rough calculations, experts can generate 200,000 kilowatts of energy from 1 square kilometer of sea surface, thus calculating that the global wave energy reserves are about 2.5 billion kilowatts.
The reserves of wave energy in the coastal waters of the mainland are about 150 million kilowatts, of which the reserves that can be directly exploited and utilized have reached 23-35 million kilowatts.
There are no windy waves in the ocean, there are wind and waves, and the wave energy is basically "inexhaustible".
As early as the 1940s, Japan began to study wave power generation.
China began its research in the 1980s and is now one of the world's leading "wave energy" research and development countries.
Mainland wave energy disclosure and patent applications
In 2000, Guangzhou Energy Research Institute developed and built the first 100 kW shore-type oscillating water column power station in Shanwei, Guangdong, realizing grid-connected power generation.
At present, wave energy power generation has changed from theory to reality, but two difficulties need to be overcome in order to put it into use and produce practical effects.
This is also the breakthrough of the "Nankun".
The first breakthrough point is efficiency.
Although the waves above the sea are enduring, they are not constant and stable.
In addition, wave energy can be converted into electrical energy after three levels of energy conversion, and the energy loss is high.
Because of this, the previous wave energy power generation device has a capacity of only a few hundred kilowatts.
In order to improve efficiency and expand capacity, the "Nankun" first made innovations in appearance, and the "trilateral" design can "receive" waves as much as possible.
In addition, the "Nankun" adopts adaptive wave power generation technology to automatically adjust the generator set according to the wave size.
Finally, the conversion system developed by Continental has increased the overall conversion efficiency of wave energy to 22%.
"Nankun"
With a plane area of more than 3,500 square meters, weighing more than 4,000 tons, the "Nankun" operates at full capacity, generating 24,000 degrees of electricity a day, which can meet the electricity needs of 3,500 households in a day.
The second breakthrough point is reliability.
The equipment is in the ocean, which must not only withstand the fury of typhoons, but also prevent the corrosion of seawater.
The Nankun can automatically fill the interior with water, increasing the weight of the device to sink it, so that it can withstand a super typhoon of Category 16.
In view of the challenges of high temperature, high humidity and high salt spray in the marine environment, the "Nanku" has also made a special design.
With high efficiency and strong reliability, the practicality of the "Nankun" is greatly enhanced.
The technical problem is solved, and wave energy power generation also faces the cost problem.
At this stage, the power generation cost of wave energy is much higher than that of conventional thermal power generation.
Cost comparison of various power generation methods in China in 2021
In addition, although the specific cost of the "Nanku" has not been announced, it must not be cheap.
The problem of comprehensive cost has become the biggest obstacle to the popularization and large-scale use of wave energy power generation.
Is it still necessary to develop wave energy power generation devices?
The answer is yes.
First, wave power generation is a global trend.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, the tidal and wave energy projects currently under preparation around the world have reached 3 GW, or 3,000 MW, thousands of times the size of the Nankun.
Global tidal and wave energy projects
According to the latest report released by analyst consulting firm Astute Analytica, the global wave and tidal energy market revenue was $477.81 million in 2022, and it is expected to achieve revenue exceeding about $10 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of 43%.
The mainland has produced more than 600 "wave energy" power generation units, deployed more than 600 in the coastal waters of the mainland, and exported to Japan and other countries.
This industry trend and the blue ocean market, China should not be absent.
Second, there is a path to cost reduction.
Although the cost of wave energy power generation is still relatively high, with the iteration of technology and the expansion of scale, the cost will be further reduced.
Third, support the marine industry system.
Electricity is the basis of modern industry.
With wave energy power generation devices, marine industrial systems such as seawater desalination and water treatment, offshore hydrogen production, and deep-sea aquaculture have been strongly supported.
In the case of marine aquaculture, if you want to go from offshore to deep sea, you can't do without electricity.
On the sea, 20 minutes from Guishan Island, Guangdong, stands a "sea fortress".
"Penghu"
The large ship, called "Penghu", is 60 meters long, 28 meters wide and 16 meters high, and is the first semi-submersible wave energy aquaculture tourism platform in mainland China.
This platform can not only realize automatic fish farming, but also has a living space for 20 people, equipped with seawater desalination, sewage treatment, water heaters, air conditioners, freezers and other living equipment.
The key to achieving these functions is a sound power system.
"Penghu" is equipped with 120 kilowatts of renewable energy, including 60 kilowatts of wave energy and 60 kilowatts of solar energy, and is self-sufficient in energy to support power generation, aquaculture, tourism, communications and other functions.
With electricity, the marine industrial system can operate efficiently.
Among them, cost is a relative concept.
For islands or deep-sea installations far from the mainland, solving the problem of "presence or absence" is more important than the problem of "noble".
After 35 years of persistence, the mainland has filled 2.8 square kilometers of Fiery Cross Island.
Here, radar stations, lighthouses, coastal defense batteries, airports, docks, satellite communication stations, hospitals, schools, shops and other facilities are available.
Fiery Cross Island
But you know, Fiery Cross Island is after all isolated in the South China Sea, and it is more than 1,000 kilometers away from Hainan Island.
This makes it very difficult to supply electricity and supply life throughout the island.
As far as electricity supply is concerned, although wind and solar power facilities have also been built on Fiery Cross Island, the power supply capacity can only be maintained at daily levels, and tensions are often present.
Now, with the Nankun power generation unit, the power generation capacity of just one unit is enough to meet the daily electricity needs of at least 3,500 households.
With sufficient electricity, industries such as desalination, island planting, and marine fisheries will be guaranteed, and Fiery Cross Island's self-sufficient ecosystem can be gradually established.
Fiery Cross Island, the "needle of the sea god" in the South China Sea, will be more stable.