Wave Energy Atlas: http://www.ineti.pt/ite/weratlas | links |
Foerd Ames
Ocean Wave Energy Company
20 Burnside Street
Bristol, Rhode Island 02809
Site: http://www.onlinebristol.com |OWEC: http://www.owec.com |
Email: foerd@owec.com | Tel: 401-253-4488 |Ocean Wave Energy Company | Ocean Wave Energy Converters
Is located in a Bristol, Rhode Island marine complex having shorefront access to substantial piers and docks. It is poised to construct several full scale Ocean Wave Energy Converters for sea trials.
1982 Test
Coast Guard Grant | Minimal Full Scale | Modularity | away from shore lines |
Where bottom does not effect the waves | neutrally bouant | gravity moves back down | optimizing up stroke | something spins | minor aids to navigation | small scale solar is better | medium and large scale | electrolysis for hydrogen | 3/4 of earth | no bottom connection | light bottom anchoriage | a line and tension | Buoy volume size increases power output | Changing the size minimually increases the volum dramtically |
Hydrogen from coal | and petrolium |
Ocean Wave Energy Converter
Working model comprising three 29” height modules designed for up to 12” wave heights. A variable frequency/extension wavemaker generated unidirectional waves with 1” to 5” heights, 2' to 12' lengths, and periods from 1 second to 7 seconds. Model shown operating in 5” waves.
True Costs:
California Energy Commission:
| http://www.energy.ca.gov/development/oceanenergy |
Wave energy conversion takes advantage of the ocean waves caused primarily by interaction of winds with the ocean surface. Wave energy is an irregular and oscillating low-frequency energy source that can be converted to a 60-Hertz frequency and can then be added to the electric utility grid. As of 1995, 685 kilowatts (kW) of grid-connected wave generating capacity was operating worldwide. This capacity comes from eight demonstration plants ranging in size from 350 kW to 20 kW. so far, there are no plants are located in California, although economic feasibility studies have been performed for a 30 MW wave converter to be located at Half Moon Bay. Additional smaller projects have been discussed at Fort Bragg, San Francisco and Avila Beach.
California Energy Commission:We do not have any “experts” to speak of on wave energy at the Commission. I wrote the page, which was created based on information from a number of places.
I would recommend talking to the folks at the
Scripts Oceangraphic Institute in La Jolla | site map |You may also need Coastal Commission apporval for such a wave energy device.
We do have funding for innovative energy projects.
Details on that can be found at:
| http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/innovations |-- Bob Aldrich
California Energy Commission
The Energy Innovations Small Grant (EISG) Program
provides up to $75,000 to small businesses, non-profits, individuals and academic institutions to conduct research that establishes the feasibility of new, innovative energy concepts.Research projects must
-- target one of the six PIER program areas,
-- address a California energy problem and
-- provide a potential benefit to California electric ratepayers.Public Interest Energy Research Program (PIER)
| http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/PIER |
| http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/PIER/pier_facts.html |
| http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/documents/index.html | links |
| http://38.144.192.166/releases/1999_releases/1999-03-31_pier_program.html |
Eighty-three new energy research projects and two new research programs, representing an investment of $56 million, resulted from the first year's operation of the California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research Program (PIER).Up to four solicitations per year are planned. To encourage participation in the program the application and award process has been simplified and assistance is available in gaining access to technical experts and laboratory facilities. The Grant Application Manual and supporting documents can be downloaded from the web page containing the current solicitation notice.
| http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/innovations |Small Grants Program
Within the Strategic program area is the Small Grants Innovation Program whose purpose is to determine the feasibility of energy technology and science innovations for new energy concepts whose feasibility are not yet established. The program is aimed at small businesses, academic institutions, small non-profit organizations and individuals. Approximately $2 to $2.5 million per year of PIER funds will be available for two years to provide up to $75,000 per grant. The program will be administered by the California State University Institute, in collaboration with the University of California, San Diego State University and Commission staff who will assist in implementation and project selection.
Bob Aldrich
Webmaster
California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth Street, MS-29
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-654-4993
E-mail: boba@energy.ca.gov |
Web Site: http://www.energy.ca.gov |
Sea Power | Sweden" http://www.seapower.se/indexeng.html |
General Infrormation about Ocean Wave Energy
Basic ConceptAbout three quarters of the solar energy that shines towards earth is received by the oceans. The solar energy heats the surface and is transformed into winds which create waves.
The main cause of stream energy, however, is the moon.
It has long been known that there are large amounts of energy in the waves of the oceans. For example the waves around the coasts of Scandinavia contain enough energy to supply the consumption of the Nordic countries. This energy source is renewable.
Waves are created by friction between air and water, and by pressure changes in the wind. Wave energy is transported long distances over the oceans with very small energy losses; generally the energy is reduced to half after about 1200 kilometres. The wave movement results in energy transport but not water transport; the water particles undergo a mainly cyclical motion but are not transported per forwards. When the waves enter shallow water, their energy is transformed into heat through bottom friction and wave breaking.
At sea one normally finds waves with varying direction, wave height, length and period.
Wave heightAn observation of the surface's form and height in a certain moment shows an irregular pattern that is never repeated. Therefore the waves have to be described in mathematical terms and statistics.
is the vertical distance between the crest of a wave and the following trough.Wavelength
is the distance between two consecutive crests.The wave period
is the time it takes for two adjacent crests to pass a certain point.“Significant wave height”
is defined as the average of the highest third of wave heights in a series of waves. This notion is more understandable and useful since it very closely compares with visual estimations from experienced seamen. The notion significant wave height is often used in connection with the design and construction of wave power stations.The energy of a wave is proportional to the squared of it's height. The wave energy of real seas per time unit that crosses line parallel to the wave front is roughly half the significant wave height squared multiplied by the wave period. The significant wave height is roughly that which an observer would estimate with a clock. The above mentioned connection can easily be used to estimate the average wave effect on location. The wave effect is usually described in kilowatt per meter front.
The extraction of wave energy may demand large capital investments, but the pricing can still compete with fossil fuel and nuclear fuel, since the “ocean fuel” is free. The transformation process of wave energy to electrical energy does not render any waste that has to be stored or destroys the environment.
SDE| Isreal: http://www.sde.co.il |
S.D.E. is a world leader in the planning, building and marketing of power stations, producing power from sea waves. S.D.E has designed a proprietary technology for production of electricity through “harvesting” sea wave motion, even in the hardest weather conditions. Rising oil costs and the worldwide shortage of electricity make this system very attractive. This technology can also be used in conjunction with a desalination plant, cutting the cost of desalinated water dramatically. SDE has an U.S. Patent, with further patents pending worldwide. The project is approved and partially financed by the Chief Scientist of Israel. SDE has been granted a governmental concession without tender to produce and sell 4MW of electricity for 20 years, at 5.25 cents per kWh, when the production price is less than 1 cent. The company, which is currently negotiating with a number of private and governmental companies worldwide, holds potential orders for some US$300M and has received an advance to design its first unique power plant in India. The system can also be used in conjunction with desalination units, reducing the cost to $0.25 /M3.The Power Energy
SDE's method consists of using sea wave motion to generate hydraulic pressure, which is then transformed into electricity. The system takes advantage of the wave’s speed, height, depth, rise and fall, and the flow beneath the approaching wave, thus producing energy more efficiently and cheaper than both other sea-wave and conventional technologies which require vast amounts of land space for their ash removal facilities, coal storage space, chimneys, furnaces, and coolers. The system has a potential to produce a net of 38kWh per meter of beachfront occupied (worldwide average).
Manufacturing cost for a 1MW system is around US$500K and production cost less than 1 cent per kWh. Other advantages of our system include protecting the coastline from the destructive forces of the sea and operating as wave breakers. With the wave power available all over the world, our system has the potential to supply 500 times the electricity needs of the Earth’s population.Development Stage
A number of models have been built and tested. A 40kW model operated with enormous success, and with the highest efficiency recorded in the world.Clean and Renewable Energy
Coal burning techniques contribute to global warming and the destruction of the ozone layer, causing changes in weather patterns, a rise in ocean level and temperature, and the increasing prevalence of hurricanes. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution kills twice as many people as irresponsible drivers. In order to prevent the environmental disaster predicted by scientists around the world, the EU and several other countries have decided to convert up to 15% of electricity production to non-conventional, clean methods. Consequently, 4 nuclear power plants were recently shut down in Switzerland, and 7 others are on the way in Germany.
The system produced by SDE offers clean and renewable energy, a perfect alternative solution.Expected Revenue and Financing
The expected annual revenue from a 10MW power plant operating at 90%, with output 75% of the year is approx. $3.1 Million, and net profit of around $1.6 Million. The system is designed to return the initial investment within three years.
Wave Energy | Denmark:
| http://www.waveenergy.dk/old/indexuk.htm |
WaveGen | UK: http://www.wavegen.co.uk | links |
Wavegen offers a full consultancy service including wide ranging feasibility studies. Our staff have unrivalled expertise in the field of wave energy, and have a successful track record in developing innovative engineering solutions. Although Wavegen’s power generation units are standardised to a large extent, some planning and location specific project management will be required to maximise the use of the available resource. Wavegen can offer it’s experience and advanced technical consultancy services to achieve this.
OSPREY is an acronym for Ocean Swell Powered Renewable EnergY, and is a near shore wave powered station. It is designed to operate in 15m of water within 1Km of the shore, generating up to 2MW of power for coastal consumers.
WaveGen | UK: http://www.wavegen.co.uk |
The Collector and Oscillating Water Column (OWC)
The wave energy collectors used in Wavegen’s Limpet and Osprey modules are in the form of a partially submerged shell into which seawater is free to enter and leave. As the water enters or leaves, the level of water in the chamber rises or falls in sympathy. A column of air, contained above the water level, is alternately compressed and decompressed by this movement to generate an alternating stream of high velocity air in an exit blowhole. If this air stream is allowed to flow to and from the atmosphere via a pneumatic turbine, energy can be extracted from the system and used to generate electricity.
WaveGen | UK: http://www.wavegen.co.uk |
The Osprey wave energy system developed by Wavegen is the world’s first commercially oriented approach to capturing power from ocean waves. Based on the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) principle, the Osprey pilot full-scale prototype plant represents a major advance in renewable energy technology and in the generation of electrical power by environmentally friendly and non-polluting means.
WaveGen | UK: http://www.wavegen.co.uk |
WOSP is an acronym for Wind and Ocean Swell Power, and is an integrated near shore wave and wind powered station. It is designed to operate much the same as the Osprey 2000 device, generating 3.5MW of power, and offers major advances in accessing multiple offshore renewable energy resources.
WaveGen | UK: http://www.wavegen.co.uk |
Power Take Off
The Turbo GeneratorThe Turbo Generator Wells turbines are used to power the electricity generators.
Wells turbines have the unique property of turning in the same direction regardless of which way the air is flowing across the turbine blades.
Thus, the turbines continue turning on both the rise and fall of wave levels within the collector chamber.
The turbine drives the generator, which converts this power into electricity.
WaveGen | UK: http://www.wavegen.co.uk |
OCEANOR
Oceanographic Company of Norway: http://www.oceanor.no |
OCEANOR
Wave Energy: http://www.oceanor.no/projects/wave_energy/index.htm |
OCEANOR has carried out a number of wave energy pre-feasibility and resource studies around the World over the last 15 years.
OCEANOR is a high-tech company specialising in delivering integrated real-time environmental monitoring and information systems for oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater and soil. The systems are often used in connection with offshore oil and gas production, harbour monitoring, sea- and fresh-water quality monitoring and weather forecasting. The company's multi-disciplinary expertise within meteorology, oceanography, biology, hydrology, chemistry, electronics and software development makes the products and services outstanding on a world wide basis.
Ocean Wave Energy Links:
Blue Energy | Canada: http://www.bluenergy.com |
Marine Development: http://www.marinedevelopmentinc.com/ocean_energy.htm |
Ocean Motion: http://members.tripod.com/~MHouser |
Sea Power | Sweden: http://www.seapower.se/indexeng.html |
Sea Power | UK: http://www.seapower.org.uk |
Ocean Power: http://www.oceanpd.com |
A company developing the Pelamis offshore wave power device. They have won a contract from the Scottish Renewables Obligation Third Order to install a pair of 375kW prototype devices off Islay, Scotland early in 2002.
Green Tie: http://www.greentie.org | links |
Ocean Wave Energy: http://www.greentie.org/class/ixb14.htm |
NTNU | Norway: http://www.ntnu.no/indexe.html |
Wave Power: http://phys.ntnu.no/glos/grupper/stralbol/bolgegrp-e.html |
Wave Descrtiption: http://www.bygg.ntnu.no/~oivarn/hercules_ntnu/Topic2.htm |
Coastal Engeneering: http://www.coastal.udel.edu/faculty/rad |
Wind Waves: http://www.ihe.nl/he/dicea/wav01/wav0101.htm |
Wave Science: http://www.math.uio.no/~ocean/cc/g/w11/f00.htm |
Wave Power:
| http://www.phys.ntnu.no/instdef/grupper/miljofysikk/bolgeforsk/index-e.html |
Professor Johannes Falnes
The wave-power group at the Department of Physics,
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU
Wave energy, which is a non-polluting and renewable source of energy, is created by natural conversion of part of the wind energy above the oceans. Wind energy is created by natural conversion of part of solar energy. With both of these energy conversions the flow of energy is concentrated (as figured in watts per square metre of area). Just below the ocean's water surface the wave energy flow, in time-average, is typically five times denser than the wind energy flow 20 m above the sea surface, and 10 to 30 times denser than the solar energy flow. Hence, there are good prospects for development of commercial wave-power plants, which may in the future become significant components for providing energy to many coastal nations.
-- Professor Johannes Falnes
| http://www.phys.ntnu.no/instdef/grupper/miljofysikk/johannes.falnes/index.html |
A new device, developed in Norway, harnesses energy from the ocean waves using a vertically oscillating float connected to a piston pump. Possible applications range from desalination of seawater and clean water supply to fish farms, to electricity production using a turbo-generator. This wave energy conversion unit is being developed by the Norwegian company ConWEC AS.Background
Some of the solar energy received by the Earth is converted to wind energy, and some of this energy is converted to wave energy when the winds blow over the oceans. Each of these conversion steps results in a concentration of the energy flow. Averaged over the seasons and over nights and days, solar power/m2 of ocean surface is typically 100*250 W, depending on factors such as local climate and geographical latitude.The average flow of wind power/m2 of envisaged vertical area in the air is about 0.5 kW. Just below the ocean surface, the corresponding figure for wave power is typically 2*3 kW. This phenomenon is an important incentive for developing practical methods to utilise ocean- wave energy.
During the last 25 years, Norwegian specialists have made significant contributions to the science of wave energy. Research carried out at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has focused on methods of controlling oscillatory motion for maximum capture of wave energy. The development of a particular system named “ConWEC” (Controlled Wave-Energy Converter) began in 1994 in co-operation with the Norwegian company Br¯drene Langset AS. In 1998, a new company, ConWEC AS, was set up to pursue further technical development, demonstration and marketing.
Wave Energy: http://www.imfedup.net/forum/_msg/00000034.htm |
US NREL
Ocean Energy: http://www.nrel.gov/clean_energy/ocean.html |
The ocean can produce two types of energy:
-- thermal energy from the sun's heat, and
-- mechanical energy from the tides and waves.
US NREL
Ocean mechanical energy is quite different from ocean thermal energy. Even though the sun affects all ocean activity, tides are driven primarily by the gravitational pull of the moon, and waves are driven primarily by the winds. As a result, tides and waves are intermittent sources of energy, while ocean thermal energy is fairly constant. Also, unlike thermal energy, the electricity conversion of both tidal and wave energy usually involves mechanical devices.A barrage (dam) is typically used to convert tidal energy into electricity by forcing the water through turbines, activating a generator.
For wave energy conversion, there are three basic systems:
-- channel systems that funnel the waves into reservoirs;The mechanical power created from these systems either directly activates a generator or transfers to a working fluid, water, or air, which then drives a turbine/generator.
-- float systems that drive hydraulic pumps; and
-- oscillating water column systems
that use the waves to compress air within a container.NREL doesn't perform any research in ocean mechanical energy technologies. Most of the research and development is happening in Europe. See the European Commission's Atlas Web site for more information on both Wave Energy and Tidal Energy.
European Commission
Site Map: http://europa.eu.int/comm/map_en.htm |
Links: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy_transport/en/links_en.html |
Wave Energy: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy_transport/index.html |
Ocean Thermal:
| http://www.pichtr.org/Ocean_Thermal_Energy_Conversion.htm |
US NREL: http://www.nrel.gov/otec/what.html | links |
“The oceans cover a little more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface. This makes them the world's largest solar energy collector and energy storage system. On an average day, 60 million square kilometers (23 million square miles) of tropical seas absorb an amount of solar radiation equal in heat content to about 250 billion barrels of oil. If less than one-tenth of one percent of this stored solar energy could be converted into electric power, it would supply more than 20 times the total amount of electricity consumed in the United States on any given day.”
Hawaii: http://www.nelha.org/otechist.html |
The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA), an agency of the State of Hawaii, operates facilities at Keahole Point on the west coast of Hawaii Island.
South Pacific: http://www.sopac.org.fj |
Renewable energy: http://www.btinternet.com/~shawater/webring/index.htm |
BC Hydro Begins Monitoring Ocean Wave Energy Potential March 15, 2002 Source: Clean Edge NewsBC Hydro has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Energetech Australia Pty Ltd. to contribute to the development of a 3 to 4 megawatt (MW) ocean wave energy demonstration project on Vancouver Island.
This project is part of the 20 MW Vancouver Island Green Energy Demonstration project announced by BC Hydro in June 2001.Energetech was short-listed from 10 international companies that submitted proposals to Hydro for developing the ocean wave energy project. Hydro is currently negotiating with a second ocean wave energy developer as well. To obtain detailed information on the ocean wave resource, BC Hydro has retained Sidney, B.C.-based AXYS Environmental Systems, a specialist in environmental data acquisition systems, to conduct ocean wave monitoring near Amphitrite Point off Ucluelet.
"BC Hydro is pleased to be working with industry leaders like Energetech and AXYS on the Green Energy Demonstration project’s ocean wave component," said BC Hydro’s Executive Vice-President of Generation, Gary Rodford. "Ocean wave energy is fairly new to North America, but B.C. is blessed with rich resources, and we’re proud to be breaking ground for Canada in this area."
Last week AXYS deployed a moored TRIAXYSTM buoy to monitor wave height, period and direction.
Solar-powered, the 0.9 metre (36-inch) diameter buoy contains motion sensors, a compass and software that analyses the data. Data will be collected and reported hourly by radio telemetry for one year, to measure and confirm the energy potential of the wave resource near Ucluelet. While Ucluelet was selected as the initial monitoring site for the Vancouver Island Green Energy Demonstration project, Winter Harbour is also being considered for potential future ocean wave energy projects."AXYS is proud to be working with BC Hydro and excited to be applying our technology in support of the Vancouver Island Green Energy Demonstration project," said AXYS Director of Sales and Marketing, Tom Vandall.
Energetech utilizes oscillating water column technology to generate electricity from ocean waves. The company’s design features a parabolic wall to focus incoming waves, maximizing wave height, and a specially designed turbine to increase generation efficiency.
"Energetech is very pleased to be part of BC Hydro’s initiative on Vancouver Island. We’re impressed by the integrated approach to green energy development being taken by this project," said CEO of Energetech, Tom Denniss.
BC Hydro’s decision to develop ocean wave energy on Vancouver Island resulted from its study into potential green energy resources for British Columbia. The first part of the study, completed early in 2001, focused on Vancouver Island and identified strong potential wind, micro hydro and ocean wave resources. In addition to ocean wave energy, the Green Energy Demonstration project will bring approximately 10 MW wind and 6 to 8 MW micro hydro energy generation online in 2003/04.
Vancouver Island was selected for the project because new energy and capacity resources are required to meet growing energy demand on the Island. Vancouver Island currently relies on the mainland for 80% of its electricity.
