Wave Power Generation. The basic concept of wave-power generation involves a turbine. Turbines can be found inside dams in rivers. Both dam turbines and wave power turbines use the same principle to generate power A wave-generator machine has s rotors(or blades). These wave-generator machines float on the ocean. When waves enter the machine, the rotors are turned, which creates power. The energy is then converted into electricity and sent through a cable to the shore. Thermal Energy. A second use of ocean power is called Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion(OTEC). This is much more efficient and promising. It relies on changes in the ocean's temperature. Giant power plants built along the shore would capture water. If the water drops by more than 38 degrees Celsius(daytime to nighttime), then energy can be saved and turned into electricity. OTEC is more s reliable because it is not located far out to sea like wave-generator machines. These machines lose some of their power when they send the electricity hundreds of kilometers to the shore.