西北太平洋適合發展溫差發電的物理海洋環境研究

Abstract

海洋蘊藏多樣能源，主要的再生能源有海洋溫差能、波浪能、潮汐能、海流能等，且乾淨無汙染，富有開發價值。其中以海洋溫差能有最大的開發價值，若能對臨近台灣的熱帶海域，採用浮動式OTEC來開發海洋溫差能源，對台灣將來的能源發展有很大的幫助。 本研究將以海洋溫差發電(OTEC)所需環境，以經度130°E~150°E、緯度0°N~20°N區域來做為海洋溫差發電的評估區域。評估的項目有海洋表面溫度、海面平均風速U10、有義波高、表面流速及颱風各回歸周期波高等，分5°x5°來討論，以決定那一區域在各方面的評估總體最佳。 評估的結果以緯度0°N~5°N，經度130°E~135°E，在此區域的颱風強度及出現頻率，海面平均風速、有義波高均最小，所以緯度0°N~5°N，經度130°E~135°E最適合發展OTEC。但此處有眾多小島，可能要跟他國簽訂合作計畫。

Ocean embraces tremendously abundant resources of ocean thermal energy, wave energy, tidal energy, and ocean current energy…etc. They are clean , create no pollution, and possess immense potential for development. Among which, ocean thermal energy holds the most formidable capacity – if the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system is adopted properly at tropical oceans near Taiwan. Taiwan’s energy production will thus be benefited. This research studies the oceanographic parameters for developing the OTEC in the region between latitude 0°N-20°N and longitude 130°E-150°E. The parameters include surface temperature, average wind speed at surface, significant wave height, surface flow speed, and typhoon wave height…etc. The area concerned is divided into a 5 degree latitude by 5 degree longitude grid to help identify the best spot to develop the OTEC system. As a result, the grid of latitude 0°N-5°N and longitude 130°E-135°E proves to be the most ideal, since it show the least typhoon intensity, occurrence frequency, average wind speed at surface, and significant wave height. Implementation of the OTEC system requires international collaboration since there are many small islands scattering in this area.