# Ocean currents: Overview

Rivers in the sea, driven by wind and saltiness

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_currents/overview/

What this tile covers Steady flows driven by wind and by differences in sea temperature and saltiness. Share of use 0% share of world energy supply (2024)

Share of world total energy supply, 2024 (latest year where noted). Denominator is the Energy Institute Statistical Review 2025 total of 592.2 EJ (physical energy content method). Flows EI omits (traditional biomass via WBA, solar and geothermal heat, food energy) are set against the same 592.2 EJ, so shares sum to slightly more than 100%. Ocean-current turbines are at prototype stage with no measurable output; tidal-stream devices are counted under Tides. Source: [Renewables 2025 Global Status Report: Ocean power](https://www.ren21.net/gsr-2025/technologies/ocean-power/), REN21.

#### Key facts

| **Origin** | Indirect solar |
|---|---|
| **Renewable** | Yes |

#### Included from the reference tables

- Ocean currents

#### Also in Solar-derived flows
[Sun Sunlight](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_sunlight/)[Wd Wind](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_wind/)[H2O Water cycle](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_hydro/)[Wv Ocean waves](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_waves/)[OT Ocean thermal gradient](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_ocean_thermal/)[Sal Salinity gradient](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_salinity/)[Bm Biomass](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_biomass/)[Amb Ambient heat](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_ambient/)[Mu Muscle power](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_muscle/)

Explore paths from here
 More on this tile in the tabs above: how energy resides, abundance, fluctuation in time, across the earth, impact on nature.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_currents/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_currents/correlation/index.md)
- [How energy resides](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_currents/resides/index.md)
- [Abundance](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_currents/abundance/index.md)
- [Fluctuation in time](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_currents/time/index.md)
- [Across the Earth](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_currents/geography/index.md)
- [Impact on nature](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_currents/nature/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_currents/links/index.md)