As waves flow in and out of theĭevice’s open chamber, the water forces air through a turbine, generating electricity. of Bilbao, Spain, upgraded its wave energy converter design, which usesĪn oscillating water column to harness wave energy. Knowledge gleaned through their NREL and PacWave South tests, C-Power hopes to gainĪ better understanding of how its new design will operate at sea, helping the companyĭevelop a larger prototype that could serve remote villages and power grids alike. Is more robust, reliable, and cost-effective than similar designs. Kilowatts of energy for coastal communities and isolated islands. The latest version of its StingRAY device, which is designed to generate about 50 Roll in, the device can autonomously drop below the surface to hide from potentiallyĭestructive waves, or operators can remotely shut it off.Ĭolumbia Power Technologies (often called C-Power) of Charlottesville, Virginia, polished Generate about 45 kilowatts of energy-enough to power close to 16 homes. Of its xWave wave energy converter for its PacWave South trial. of Berkeley, California, prepared the latest version Each of the projectĬalWave Power Technologies Inc. Of course, not all wave energy converters are exactly the same. To reduce costs, another critical step to earn commercial success. How wave energy converters perform in real waves-that valuable data could help waveĮnergy technology developers achieve the performance and reliability goals needed These tests will also provide precious data on The team also helped the partners align their designs with international standards-a global rubric that ensures new technologies are safe and perform as promised.īut before these devices can connect to the grid, they need to go through one moreĬritical step: open-water testing. Technology designs by, for example, simulating how they might function in real ocean Improve the cost and durability of their technologies.įrom 2019 to 2023, NREL researchers worked with the four projects to assess their In the long term, these devicesĬould help the country build a carbon-free power system.īut today’s devices are not quite ready to jump onto the grid developers must first Island communities and even offshore applications, such as seafood and sea vegetableįarming, marine research, or military operations. In the short term, wave energy converters could generate clean power for coastal and Will operate in the harsh and inhospitable ocean environment.” Testing facilities, and modeling capabilities, developers can design devices that Lawson, who leads the NREL marine energy team. “Developing and testing marine energy technologies is inherently complex,” said Mike NREL researchers provided expert guidance and facilities to ensure technology designsĬan withstand the test site’s powerful waves. The four wave energy converters, which transform the power from ocean waves into electricalĮnergy, are being designed for in-water, grid-connected testing at the PacWave South test site, currently under construction off the coast of Oregon. Their wave energy devices ready for their first open ocean trials-a big step towardĬommercialization. Ocean waves hold the potential to provide Americans with clean, reliable, renewableĮnergy.
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