# Ocean waves

Energy passed from wind to the sea surface.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_waves/

Natural sources · Solar-derived flows · No. 4

- Natural sources
- Origin: Indirect solar
- Renewable: Yes
 Natural sources · Solar-derived flows · Foundation · Energy

A stormy Atlantic coast receives 50 kW or more of wave power along every metre of shoreline.

Chart: Illustration: Ocean waves

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Wind hands energy to the sea surface, which waves then carry for great distances; a 3 m, 10 second sea brings about 45 kW per metre.

##### Three things to know

1. The richest wave climates lie between about 40 and 60 degrees latitude, on west-facing coasts.
2. Within the US, Alaska dominates with a theoretical 2,000 TWh a year of wave resource.
3. Enclosed seas are weak: the Baltic offers only about 0.7-1.5 kW per metre of coast.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Wind**Blows across long stretches of open ocean
2. 2 **Waves**Energy held as motion and lifted water
3. 3 **Swell**Travels for days, so it is forecastable
4. 4 **Converters**Demonstration devices on coasts and offshore
5. 5 **Electricity**Still only from individual pilot plants
 Covered in [Earth's energy flows: sun, wind, water, heat and lifeEnergy](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/energy/earths-energy-flows/)

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

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