2023-07-03 04:21:15
Look at this: Transforming wave energy into electricity, hydrogen and fresh water
04:32
Something resembling a long yellow raft floats on the surface of the ocean, harnessing the power of the waves in an attempt to compete with the energy sector’s top producer.
“We are not trying to compete with others in wave energy,” says Alex Zakheos, co-CEO of Sea Wave Energy Limited. “We are not trying to compete with wind and solar. We are trying to compete with fossil fuels. »
SWEL’s Waveline magnet can reach lengths of approximately 600 meters or 1,970 feet.
SWELL
SWEL has been developing its wave energy converter for over 10 years, a journey that has led to this unique design called Waveline Magnet, which consists of four main components.
The spine provides the structure and holds it together. The platform connects the Waveline magnet to the surface of the water. Levers connect the rig to the spine, and pumps collect seawater, where it’s pressurized and can be used for things like desalination, hydrogen production, and power generation.
The onboard view of a Waveline Magnet prototype.
SWELL
The size of these devices varies according to the wave conditions and the energy needs of the area. At the widest end, they can reach regarding 600 meters long and 24 meters wide (regarding 1,970 feet by 79 feet). A case study prepared for a unit of this size in Scotland, where waves averaged 3 meters, estimated that its power output might be 140 gigawatt hours per year, which Zakheos says is “levels of production of a power plant from a single system”.
Hydrogen might prove to be a valuable and more sustainable energy reserve than fossil fuels or even batteries, although it has yet to catch on.
The Waveline Magnet still has one last prototyping step to go through before it is ready for commercialization. Zakheos tells me that the first commercial unit will likely be a smaller desalination-focused unit.
To see the Waveline Magnet prototypes in action, watch the video in this article.
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