Wave energy technology generates electricity from the movement of waves. For the first time, a facility will exceed one megawatt of power, paving the way for new advancements.
This installation will mark a milestone in the field of clean energy. After more than ten years of harnessing wave energy technology, Eco Wave Power will create a facility capable of generating one megawatt of power for the first time. This is an unprecedented step in using wave force to generate electricity.
The company officially launched its largest project in Portugal in early August, as reported by New Atlas. The city of Porto is set to host the firm’s first commercial-scale installation, which will ultimately have a maximum capacity of up to 20 MW, distributed across four sites.
Harnessing wave energy to power a closed circuit, wave energy technology takes advantage of the movement of waves. However, this technology is quite different from offshore wind turbines, where the sea rotates a turbine. Instead, it involves installing floats on coastal structures. The waves will cause these floats to rise and fall, activating a pneumatic system.
Each float is mounted on a piston that stretches and contracts in sync with the waves. It acts like a pump, circulating hydraulic fluid within a closed circuit. The flow of the fluid powers a hydraulic rotor, which is used to generate electricity.
This model is indeed challenging to implement, as it requires a location with buildings or structures exposed to the waves. However, it is significantly easier to connect to the electrical grid. Along the coast, there is no need to run miles of cable to reach the onshore network, as is the case with buoys installed offshore.
Many upcoming projects are in the pipeline, including a 77 MW installation in Turkey. The first installation of this type, which can operate 24/7, was established in Gibraltar in 2016. After six years of service, it was dismantled, renovated, and sent to Los Angeles for a demonstration project.
Source: GEO
