By : Franyi Sarmiento, Ph.D., Inspenet, August 24, 2022
Wave Swell Energy installed a device that generates electricity by capturing the energy from the movement of ocean waves in Grassy Harbour, off the coast of King Island in Australia.
The test platform has been located in the waters that separate the Australian continent from the island state of Tasmania and there, New Atlas points out, it has been providing clean energy to the island’s microgrid 24 hours a day for 12 months.
“We have operated the unit and it has survived for the last 12 months in the harsh conditions of the Bass Strait and… we have achieved the objectives that we set for ourselves,” Paul Greason, of Wave Swell Energy, explains to ABC. The company estimates that, under the right conditions, the UniWave200 would generate enough power to power about 200 homes.
UniWave’s floating device can be towed to any point on the coast, connects to the local network and takes advantage of the sway of the waves thanks to a camera. Pressure changes in the air drive the turbine and generate power. During the process, the surge pressurizes the air and creates a vacuum.
According to its creators, the system is more efficient than devices that use only surface or bottom energy. While its unidirectional generation allows the manufacture of simpler, more durable and cheaper turbines.
The device is designed in such a way that it can also be incorporated into breakwaters and jetties, where, in addition to generating green energy, it can help mitigate coastal erosion.
This xataka portal material was edited for clarity, style and length.
Photo : Wave Swell
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