Session: 09-09-01: Hybrid Energy I

Submission Number: 154768

Survey and Comparisons of Innovative Alternate Concepts for Offshore Renewable Energy 

The USA has ambitious targets for 100% carbon-pollution free electricity by 2035 and net zero carbon-dioxide emissions by 2050. To achieve these targets while minimizing additional allocations of land with other competing potential uses, it is strategically vital to increase implementation of offshore renewable energy systems in an overall renewable systems portfolio. With the USA having the World’s largest offshore Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of around 12 million square kilometers and access to the variety of strong renewable energy sources contained in the EEZ, the 2035 and 2050 strategic targets can unquestionably be satisfied. The single biggest challenge is to identify, develop and implement offshore renewable energy solutions that are as good or better than onshore solutions, judged by optimizing measures of merit including both capital cost (CAPEX) and lifecycle cost (LCOE). Currently, offshore wind is the only offshore renewable energy technology that is implemented on a large scale. Thus, the need for identification and accelerated development of the most promising innovations across all categories of offshore renewable energy is clearly of great importance. This paper presents a global survey of innovative alternate concepts for offshore renewable energy – spanning offshore wind; offshore solar; tidal & ocean current energy; and wave energy. Qualitative advantages and challenges of a wide variety of offshore renewable energy harvesting innovations will be summarized. Quantitative trends will also be discussed, with a focus on measures of merit such as weight / rated power, capital cost / rated power, lifecycle cost of energy (LCOE), and energy harvest potential / offshore water lease area. Comparative advantages and disadvantages of paradigm-shift as well as evolutionary offshore renewable energy innovations will be outlined. These findings are intended to help steer researchers and industry towards Technology Readiness Level (TRL) advancements which will support the development of an optimized mix of offshore renewable technologies with excellent potential to very cost-effectively achieve the 2035 and 2050 targets. A key goal of our wide-ranging survey is to develop and share conclusions and recommendations that help the USA synthesize a path to a global innovation leadership position in offshore renewables technology. Ensuing benefits should encompass  environmental benefits, climate change mitigation benefits, land use minimization benefits, economic benefits and large-scale job creation benefits.

Presenting Author: Mithra Sankrithi RIC Enterprises

Presenting Author Biography: Mithra has a Ph.D. in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University & an MBA from Seattle University. Mithra is deeply passionate about renewable energy innovations, and to advance these co-founded RIC Enterprises in 1997. RIC Enterprises is a US nonprofit company and Mithra serves as CEO, driving progress on pioneering renewable energy innovations with strong potential to benefit humanity and our global environment- including progress in the areas of wind energy, solar cogeneration, offshore solar, hydrokinetic renewable energy and pumped storage. In addition to leading RIC Enterprises, Mithra had a 37-year productive aerospace career as a visionary leader working on “green aviation” efforts at Boeing, culminating in a role as Senior Manager for Airplane Architecture, Innovation and Product Evaluation. Mithra’s innovation experience includes an invention portfolio with 86 issued US patents in addition to international patents. Mithra’s external engagements have also been extensive, including engagements with Innovation Research Interchange, World Future Society, renewable energy organizations, supplier companies, NASA, FAA, EASA, AIAA, and Universities including Georgia Tech, Columbia, Cornell, MIT, Florida Atlantic, Univ. of Washington, Washington State University, Purdue, Case Western, USC, Cal Poly SLO, Oregon State University, Oregon Institute of Technology, U of Texas, Texas A&M, University of Alaska, Ilisagvik College, Technical University of Munich, & Cranfield University.