The Cornwall-based company Offshore Wave Energy which developed and patented the new concept of wave energy device that traps and compresses air in successive wave troughs, has completed a feasibility study confirming the technical performance of the wave energy converter design and the commercial viability of the concept. The study was sponsored by a DTI Smart Award followed by a two-year Initial Development Programme sponsored by a Carbon Trust Grant.
Initial Tank Testing trials were conducted by QinetiQ followed by 1/10th Tank Tests conducted by NaREC. These have projected megawatts of power from a full scale device.
The compressed air is accumulated in a reservoir and is then used to drive a turbine and thus generate power. The devices are inherently robust and are designed to be installed on floating platforms, moored offshore in sea areas where energetic wave spectra are found. Director, Professor John Kemp, explains that the OWEL WEC uses the horizontal component of wave action to compress the air in successive wave troughs and thence to drive a turbine. A target efficiency of 30% for wave to air power conversion, combined with 80% for air to electrical power conversion would provide a wave to wire efficiency of some 25%.
Prices comparable to offshore wind turbines
These figures, together with the low capital costs and particularly low operational costs of the OWEL WECs allow the production of electrical power at a price that is comparable to offshore wind turbines, - estimated at around £100 per MWh in the Carbon Trust Publication “Offshore Wind Power”. Nevertheless, Professor Kemp is quick to point out that he does not see OWEL platforms as being in competition with offshore wind. In fact, the platforms will be able to host wind turbines at a fraction of the cost of providing the wind turbines with dedicated supports.
Offshore Wave Energy Ltd (OWEL) in association with IT Power Ltd is continuing research and development for the unique Grampus device with support from the South-West Regional Development Agency. On completion of the present phase, at the end of 2009, OWEL will be poised to commence a final development phase, which will involve design, construction and testing of a near full-scale device, most likely in the EMEC facility off Orkney.
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