The device works by funneling incoming waves into a funnel thereby driving air through a turbine. In total the device cost $4.7 million USD to build will also be able to withstand a 100 year storm. A nice add on of the system is that it can also desalinate salt water. The prototype which is being tested at present can desalinate up to 2,000 liters of a water a day.
Plans are to use the experience gained from the prototype to build a larger series of 10 units in Victoria on the southern coast of Australia. Interest has also been shown from Chile , Mexico, South Africa, Spain, and the United States. Prices for the electricity generated are below 10 cents ASD per kW. This coupled with the fact that energy found in the earth’s oceans is densest of any kind means there might be a big future for wave power.
In 2006 The International Academy of Science named Energetech’s Wave Amplifier as one of the 10 most outstanding technologies. The device which is deployed at Port Kembla in Australia is 36 meters long, weighs 485 tons and is deployed 200 meters from the breakwater of the harbor. The device does not emit any carbon or sulphur and according to the companies own website has saved 10818,4 tons of CO2 since the Kyoto Conference.
For additional information:
http://www.energetech.com.au/
