Energy
The extraction of energy from our oceans covers a multitude of scientific disciplines of interest to the NOC. These range from developing an understanding of the physical and ecological environment where such activities take place, including the amount of a particular resource available, to understanding how energy extraction activities might alter that environment and even the resource itself.
The development of energy extraction technologies is largely outside our remit, although the boundaries between the engineering and environmental sciences needed to progress this exciting field are necessarily blurred at times, particularly where the development of the specialised ocean measurement and monitoring systems are concerned.
Hydocarbons
Natural oil and gas found in rocks beneath the seabed give us the fuel we need for cooking and heating in our homes, for power stations, motor vehicles and aeroplanes.
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Methane hydrates
Gas hydrates are naturally occurring ice-like crystals that form at high pressure and low temperature in marine sediments. They occur at water depths greater than 300 metres, wherever there is sufficient methane and water in the sediments.
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Biofuels from marine algae
One promising source of biofuels has been identified as marine algae grown in large open ponds. The algae would be harvested and turned into a carbon neutral fuel source.
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Marine renewables
The UK has committed itself to reducing the amount of carbon being released in to the atmosphere by 80% by 2050. The seas around the UK have the potential to provide a large amount of our electricity requirement by extracting some of the energy from the wind, waves and tides.
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