Maui is so rich in renewable energy resources—how does wave energy compare to the others? First, it needs to be stated that Hawai‘i needs all the sustainable energy it can develop, and should certainly not depend on any single technology. There is no such thing as a “silver bullet” which will solve all our energy problems. A diversified energy portfolio plus dedication to conservation and efficiency will be essential for a robust and secure future.
That being said, each renewable energy resource certainly has its advantages and even some disadvantages. Like many renewables, wave power is “intermittent,” meaning that it is not always available. Yes, even windward Maui, where Oceanlinx has proposed a wave power installation, has flat seas now and again!
However, wave energy is more predictable than some other renewable resources; satellite and other sensing techniques have the ability to track wave patterns and predict when swells will hit. Just ask any serious surfer—there are Websites that provide enough data to give a heads-up notice several days before good waves arrive!
When a utility buys power from these intermittent resources—which also include solar, wind and run-of-the-river hydroelectricity—it relies on conventional fossil-fueled power plants to make the rest of the electricity needed by its customers. However, some renewable resources, such as geothermal, are not intermittent: They can generate electricity 24-7 and are usually used as base-load plants, just like most oil- or coal-fired power plants.
Many forms of renewable energy are now less expensive than the oil-based electricity Maui customers buy. For instance, wind, geothermal and photovoltaic power are all cheaper per kilowatt-hour, over their lifetimes, than current Maui utility prices. However, the high initial costs of the equipment can be discouraging, even though the investment will be worth it in the long run, because the fuel is free.
Wave power is no different: The up-front costs are significant. Also, because the technology is not yet mature, costs for the early commercial plants are likely to be high. After more experience and improvements to the technology, however, the cost of wave-generated electricity should drop significantly, just as it has for the other technologies.
In partnership with the state’s energy office, the Maui Weekly provides this feature to help Valley Isle homeowners reduce their utility bills and increase their environmental awareness.