Wave energy comes from waves. It is produced by taking advantage of their movement, making it a sustainable energy with great potential, as there are waves in all the seas and coasts of the planet. In fact, there are currently numerous projects that are taking advantage of it.
As its name suggests (undi means “waves” in Greek, and “motor” means movement), it is an energy generated by the movement of waves, and this is harnessed thanks to different technologies. If you want to know more details about what wave energy is, you are in the right place, because below at EcologíaVerde we will tell you all the details you need to know.
Wave energy
Indeed, since waves are a consequence of the friction of the air on the surface of the sea, although this is very irregular, their use for obtaining energy is undoubtedly well worth the effort.
Precisely for this reason, different machines have been created, such as the installation of turbines on the seabed attached to buoys, which is the most common.
The buoys transmit the movement of the waves to the turbines, generating electricity . Basically, the waves enter an air chamber, raising the water level and compressing the air inside, which will finally be expelled through an upper opening, activating a turbine or, in other words, electricity is produced.
Another system, known as robotic “sea serpents” – Anaconda (a Checkmate Seaenergy project) or Pelamis – has been named after its shape. It consists of floating machines that obtain energy from the movement of their various articulated parts.
Although there are successful installations, some are in the experimental phase and both these and commercial ones are still few in number. As with other types of sea energy (osmotic power, tidal power, current energy or tidal energy), wave energy is still being studied and improved. Especially considering the enormous source of clean and renewable energy that the sea can offer us, an equally inexhaustible resource.
Tidal energy
Tidal energy is a type of marine energy that is often confused with wave energy. To distinguish between them, it is important to be clear about their essential differences. While, on the one hand, wave energy refers exclusively to the use of energy from the movement of waves , on the other hand, tidal energy uses the movement of the tides , that is, the rise and fall of water produced by the gravitation of the sun and the moon.
Therefore, it is an energy use of different marine energies, which requires different technologies. Although tides and waves are closely linked, other topics such as currents are also closely linked, the use of which gives rise to another type of marine energy.
If wave energy is irregular, tidal energy also has its peculiarities, and it is only worth installing a tidal power station where the high and low seas have a sufficient difference of more than five metres in height. Otherwise, it will not be profitable.
On the other hand, a tidal power plant project can be built in a cove, river, estuary or bay, for example, and is based on storing water in a reservoir, which involves building a dam with gates. The objective will be to allow the entry of water to operate the turbines.
First commercial plant in the world
Carnegie Wave Energy ‘s project in Perth, Western Australia , has just entered its commercial phase after a decade of work. Finally, with a multi-million-dollar investment, it will harness the power of the waves on the turbulent coast of Perth, using a technology based on buoys.
With its inauguration, the first commercial wave power plant of its kind in the world is being opened. It is also the first time that electricity from waves has been generated in the country.
The plant passed trials in 2014 and is currently operating with five wave power generation units. The plant will supply electricity to the Australian Department of Defence and Australia’s largest naval base, HMAS Stirling, located on Garden Island.
