Wave Energy Converter: Harnessing The Power Of Waves A New Frontier In Renewable Energy

Wave Energy Converter

History of Wave Energy Technology

The concept of harnessing energy from ocean waves is not new. Many attempts were made throughout the 20th century to utilize this abundant renewable resource, though most were not economically viable at the time. Some of the earliest recorded attempts include experiments conducted in France and Scotland in the late 1940s. However, it was not until the 1970s that significant advances were made. This was due in large part to the 1973 oil crisis which sparked renewed interest in developing alternative energy technologies. During this period, both shore-based and floating wave energy devices were tested at various locations around the world. While promising results were achieved, high capital costs prevented widespread commercialization.

Over the next few decades, advances in materials engineering, power electronics, and renewable energy policies have helped drive down costs and improve performance. Wave Energy Converter have benefited greatly from these advancements. By the early 2000s, several new device designs had emerged and more rigorous testing was underway. Several prototypes were also grid connected, proving the potential for utility-scale wave power production. Although still at the pre-commercial stage, wave energy continues to mature as an emerging renewable energy industry.

Working Principles of Wave Energy Converters

There are a few main working principles utilized by modern WEC designs:

Oscillating Water Columns (OWCs): An OWC system consists of a partially submerged, hollow structure with an opening facing the incoming waves. As wave action causes water levels inside to rise and fall, it drives air in and out of the chamber through a turbine, similar to the workings of a piston inside a cylinder. The airflow spins the turbine which is connected to a generator to produce electricity.

Overtopping Devices: These floating devices are designed to capture wave energy by allowing waves to "overtop" into a reservoir above sea level. The reservoir then releases the captured water back to the sea through low-head hydro turbines. The cyclic process of filling and emptying powers the turbines.

Point Absorbers: Located either on the seafloor or floating at the surface, point absorbers work by utilizing the momentum transfer from incoming wave particles striking an oscillating buoyant body. The motion is augmented by an absorber column anchored below, driving the movement of mechanical components to produce electricity via a generator.

Attenuators: Similar to a group of floating barriers oriented parallel to wave fronts, attenuators capture and convert wave power through their movement relative to each other. The motion drives hydraulic rams and pumps which power onshore electricity generators.

Wave energy converters harness the predictable rhymic motion of waves to transform it into an abundant renewable electricity source. By locating devices close to shore yet far enough to avoid impact on coastlines, wave energy promises to power coastal communities sustainably for generations to come.

Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures

One concern regarding any industrial-scale offshore infrastructure is potential negative impacts on sensitive marine environments. However, proponents argue that with proper site screening and mitigation strategies in place, wave energy development can proceed responsibly. Some key considerations include:

- Habitat disturbance from installation and maintenance activities. Careful routing and seasonal restrictions can minimize disruption.

- Underwater noise pollution from operation of moving parts in the water. Low-noise designs and isolation from critical habitats address this issue.

- Electromagnetic field (EMF) effects from subsea transmission cables on organisms. Proper burial depth prevents EMF interaction with surface waters.

- Collision risk to marine mammals from moving structures. Safety monitoring, shutdown systems, and behavioral modeling help reduce risk.

- Coexistence with fisheries and vessel traffic routes. Early stakeholder engagement identifies compatible multi-use space.

- Changes to local hydrodynamic and sediment regimes. Modeling aids in siting devices away from sensitive areas.

With diligence applied at all project stages from scoping to decommissioning, wave energy need not conflict with stewardship of ocean resources. Proper risk assessment and mitigation will help ensure both industry growth and environmental protection can proceed together.

Device Testing and Current Commercial Projects

Following years of testing innovative early prototypes, recent progress demonstrates the growing viability of commercial-scale WEC projects. Here are some notable developments:

- Scotland's Islay LIMPET plant has operated since 2000, proving the OWC concept over decades. Numerous other European test sites have since emerged.

- In Australia, research partnership OPT's CETO 6 device was grid connected in 2019, producing over 750MWh annually from its location near Perth.

- The US Navy has tested WEC designs for over a decade at sites in Hawaii to power remote ocean sensors and buoys.

- In Portugal, the 1.5MW Pelamis wave farm operated from 2008-2013, the first multi-unit project to feed power to the national grid.

- Oregon-based Albatrex developed a two-segment attenuator design and commenced open-sea testing in 2016 off the coast of Hawaii.

- Off Reunion Island, the Wavestar prototype, an overtopping buoy entered the final stages of testing and certification in 2021 prior to commercial deployment.

In Summary, as these projects scale up in size, falling costs will help to realize the vast global resource potential of wave power. Continued investments will drive further technological and economic progress to fully harness this abundant renewable wave resource of our oceans.

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