The ocean is immensely powerful. The energy generated by waves along the world’s coasts is enough to power to the entire planet dozens of times over. While we are just beginning to understand and design systems to harness this power, there already seem to be three prevailing methods favored for capturing energy from the ocean: underwater turbines (to capture energy from underwater currents) and hydraulic-based systems, both on the ocean surface and below, designed to capture wave energy.
Aquamarine Power is an Edinburgh-based renewable energy technologies company that has developed a hydro-electric wave energy converter that is somewhat a combination of a surface-based wave capture system combined with an underwater system. The system is called Oyster, for obvious reasons, and its operation is and mechanics are quite simple. Using almost the same principles and mechanics as BioPower’s BioWave, the Oyster utilizes wave action to drive huge hydraulic pistons which power land-based hydro-electric generators.
From Aquamarine’s website:
Oyster consists of an Oscillator fitted with pistons and fixed to the nearshore sea bed. Each passing wave activates the Oscillator, pumping high pressure water through a sub-sea pipeline to the shore. Onshore, conventional hydro-electric generators convert this high-pressure water into electrical power. Oyster is designed to be deployed in multi-MW arrays. With a peak power of 300-600kW per Oyster, a commercial farm of just ten devices could provide clean renewable energy to a town of 3,000 homes.
Designed to be deployed at depths of 10-12m, Oyster will benefit from the more consistent seas and narrower directional spread of waves found nearshore. Reduced wave height and load enhance Oyster’s natural survivability. Any excess energy is spilled over the top of Oyster’s flap; its rotational capacity allowing it to literally duck under the waves.
Aside from the energy and materials used in their manufacture, Oyster is relatively benign when it comes to the environment. It uses no toxic substances , has very few moving parts so it’s safe to marine life, and because it uses seawater as hydraulic fluid, there is no chance of any oil leaking should one of the lines spring a leak. It’s estimated one Oyster will save 500 tons of carbon from being released into the atmosphere every year.
A full scale installation is planned for the Orkney Islands off the Northern coast of Scotland later this year.
The Good: Another simple, yet ingenious, method of producing clean renewable energy from wave power. Few moving parts and no toxic substances being used in its operation.
The Bad: Just now going into full scale testing. Seawater as hydraulic fluid may prove to be more corrosive and problematic than anticipated. Unlike BioWave, Oyster operates above the surface leaving it susceptible to damage from weather and ship strikes.
The Bottom-Line: Devices like the Oyster, which operate on relatively simple principles and mechanisms, are key to providing the world with more clean renewable energy.
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