Pelamis Wave Energy Converter

As a sea snake ( Pelamis Greek ) a design of wave power plants is called, the first prototype was commissioned in 2004 off the Scottish coast.

  • 4.1 Orcadian Wave Farm
  • 4.2 West Wave

Construction

They consist of a plurality of steel tube segments, which are coupled by joints. At the joints hydraulic pumps are mounted, which drive a generator. You can - like wind farms - are used to produce renewable energy from the sea. The existing prototype having a length of 150 meters, is composed of four segments, each with 3.5 m diameter and produced a maximum power of 750 kW. On an annual average, only 25-40 % of this value can be achieved according to the manufacturer though. To avoid risks to the environment must be ensured that the hydraulic fluid used is readily biodegradable. In previous wave energy plants, a major problem was the robustness against " rogue waves ". In the current design this problem is to be avoided by diving through the buoyancy due to excessive water waves.

Advantages over wind power plants

  • No cranes required for installation
  • No foundation required, only an anchor with chain
  • Since waves at the edge of oceans also occur when locally there is no wind, wave power plants can complement the existing mix of renewable energy makes sense by reducing fluctuations in the total amount of energy generated is

Disused equipment

I Aguçadoura Wave Farm (Portugal )

Developed over many years and operated the Scottish Pelamis Wave Power a prototype with 750 kW of power. With the Portuguese Enersis ( later acquired by Babcock & Brown) agreed on the construction of the wave farm off the Portuguese west coast. In April 2006, met three made ​​in Scotland plants in parts one on a freighter in the harbor of Peniche ( 80km north of Lisbon). However, commissioning and testing went on for 2.5 years. Only in the summer of 2008, the three systems were towed with 750 kW of power towards Porto. Before Póvoa de Varzim, 5 km from the coast they were anchored in 40 m water depth. The plant with the number 002 then went on 15 July 2008 and supplied a first power into the Portuguese grid. On 24 September 2008 the complete wave farm was inaugurated by the Portuguese Minister of Economy.

Half a year later, the three systems were, however, closed down due to technical and financial problems and towed to the port of Porto. There are currently no data available for re- commissioning.

The "Wave Roller" wave power plant operates on an entirely different principle. It is currently located north of Peniche Portugal before the test phase.

Aguçadoura II

Aguçadoura education should happen next, ahead of Portugal in operation. After only wanted to install 34 systems, there were still 25 turbines with a total capacity of 18.75 MW. The costs were estimated at approximately 70 million euros.

Construction in progress

Orcadian Wave Farm

2 km west front of the main island of Orkney (Scotland ) within the territory of the European Marine Energy Centre ( EMEC ), 4 plants together with 3 MW.

A farm of 40 of these plants would require a square kilometer area and could typically provide 30 MW of power. The cost of electricity production in 2004 given as 10 cents per kWh, with a falling trend.

West Wave

15km from Hayle ( UK, North Cornwall coast ), 7 plants with a total capacity of 5 MW, completed in 2009.

Plants in the planning

A model, which float mainly consists of rubber - like material, is called Anaconda and is in the stage of research and planning.

Hydraulics Peniche, Portugal
721350
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