Finavera Renewables Inc. (TSX-V: FVR.V) announced that it has successfully completed a major milestone in its wave energy development program with the deployment and commissioning of the AquaBuOY 2.0 wave energy converter off the coast of Newport, Oregon. This marks the first installation of a wave energy converter of this scale off the west coast of North America and moves the Company closer to achieving its goal of commercial electricity generation from ocean waves by 2010.
The AquaBuOY is a floating buoy structure that converts the kinetic energy of the vertical motion of oncoming waves into clean electricity.
The AquaBuOY 2.0 is situated approximately two and a half miles off the coast of Newport, Oregon. Over the next several weeks, Finavera Renewables will test and analyze the performance of the half-size prototype's components and monitor its hydraulic power output. During this phase, all onboard diagnostic equipment will be powered by an onboard Pelton turbine as well as solar panels and small wind turbines installed on the device. Data is being streamed live via wireless and satellite technology for analysis. This test data will be used for the design of a larger version, for commercial deployment, with a capacity of 250 kW, scheduled for construction in 2008. The current project does not generate power, rather the company wants to study the pressure output of the device.
The company is advancing along its project development plan with the phased installation of a multi-device wave park and commercial electricity generation by 2010. The Company currently has wave energy projects totaling more than 250 megawatts (MW) planned or under development on the west coast of North America.
A cluster of AquaBuOYs would have a low silhouette in the water. Located several miles offshore, the power plant arrays would be visible to allow for safe navigation and no more noticeable than a small fleet of fishing boats.
The AquaBuOY is categorized as a point absorber, defined as having a small dimension in relation to the longer wave length in which it is operating. It utilizes a cylindrical buoy as the displacer and the reactor is a large water mass enclosed by a long vertical tube underneath the buoy.
Safely positioned offshore, AquaBuOYs are being designed for 100 year storms by riding atop the extreme waves at sea, rather than experiencing catastrophic damage, as during tsunami, from the breaking waves onshore.
Energy transfer takes place by converting the vertical component of wave kinetic energy into pressurized seawater by means of two-stroke hose pumps. Pressurized seawater is directed into a conversion system consisting of a turbine driving an electrical generator. The power is transmitted to shore by means of a secure, undersea transmission line.
The AquaBuOY Consists of Four Elements:
- Buoy
- Acceleration Tube
- Piston
- Hose Pump
The acceleration tube is a vertical, hollow cylinder rigidly mounted under the body of the buoy. The tube is open in both ends so seawater can pass unimpeded back and forth, forcing the piston to move, and in turn extend or compress the hose pumps.
Positioned at the midpoint of the acceleration tube is the piston, a broad, neutrally buoyant disk. When the buoy is at rest, the piston is held at the midpoint by the balanced tension of two hose pumps that are attached to opposite sides of the piston and extend to the top and bottom of the acceleration tube, respectively.
The hose-pump is a steel reinforced rubber hose whose internal volume is reduced when the hose is stretched, thereby acting as a pump. The pressurized sea water is subsequently expelled into a high-pressure accumulator, and in turn fed to a turbine which drives a generator. Generated electricity is brought to shore via a standard submarine cable.
Click here to view the AquaBuOY movie.
I think this aproach to harnessing wave power will have a second benefit. It can help smooth out the surface of the water around ports and areas with wave problems.
Posted by: greg | September 12, 2007 at 09:28 AM
greg: Diminition of wave power is more likley a problem than a selling point. One wave enegy project off Englands coast was opposed by surfing interests. The interests of sportsmen and environmentalist can often conflict.
Posted by: bigTom | September 12, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Tom
I don't agree. You have enough ports that are not suitable for surfing. It may not be a good idea to install a project like this in front of Waikiki. Besides it doesn't mean you will be creating waterskiing conditions. Many places in the world could use these bouys instead of solid structures to help control sand drift.
Posted by: greg | September 12, 2007 at 10:50 AM
They might as well put a small wind generator and solar panel on top of them while they are at it.
Posted by: Gregor | September 12, 2007 at 01:14 PM
This seems more space efficient than the Pelamis device. Interesting that there is such a variety of design for wave energy.
Stephen
Posted by: Stephen Boulet | September 12, 2007 at 01:28 PM
Problem with putting these things near harbors: even especially turbulent harbors probably do not have enough wave motion to generate eletricity cheaply. I expect these things work best precisely where the surfers like to surf.
Solar panels & wind turbines: I think I actually saw a picture of one with panels and small turbines on it... but my guess those are just to power systems to monitor the performance of the trial bouy.
Posted by: Tom Konrad | September 12, 2007 at 03:35 PM
greg, I hope you are right, I'd love to see this sort of stuff take-off. I suspect there is still some serious engineering to be done to insure long lifetime in the marine environment. Wave power would make a nice complement to wind and solar, especially as it generally increases at (moderately) high latitudes.
Posted by: bigTom | September 12, 2007 at 09:31 PM
I doubt this technology will be very successful for large-scale power. It has moving parts in a seawater environment that will require expensive materials and maintenance. It might be good for places like Kodiak Island in Alaska. But how can this low energy technology compete in most locations? I would be interested in the cost per kWe from such a system.
Posted by: JohnBo | September 13, 2007 at 03:14 AM
It fantastic device, I 'd like know more aboout it, we can use twin on our system to improve them !!!
www.bassioffshore.com
Posted by: bassi offshore | October 30, 2007 at 06:55 PM
AquaBuOY 2.0 MIA. Somewhere on the ocean floor off the coast near Newport, Oregon.
Posted by: Kit P | December 06, 2007 at 09:21 AM
the comment above
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Posted by: Andrea | March 26, 2008 at 08:04 AM
Wave farms are not likely to interfere with surfers. They aren't going to position these devices in breaking surf, but further offshore.
The problem of keeping something floating in salt water is well understood. We've got ships that have been operating in these conditions for decades.
The fact that Finavera's prototype sunk at the end of the test period is insignificant. That unit was not designed to last for more than a few months, not years. They'll haul out the device once the winter storms are over and figure out where they need to beef up their float system.
What is important is that they were able to prove their models and can now go ahead with larger scale tests.
Posted by: Bob Wallace | March 26, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Besides it doesn't mean you will be creating waterskiing conditions. Many places in the world could use these bouys instead of solid structures to help control sand drift.
Posted by: r4 card | October 13, 2011 at 10:45 AM
It may not be a good idea to install a project like this in front of Waikiki. Besides it doesn't mean you will be creating waterskiing conditions. Many places in the world could use these bouys instead of solid structures to help control sand drift.
Posted by: r4 | October 15, 2011 at 01:02 PM
Wave farms are not likely to interfere with surfers. They aren't going to position these devices in breaking surf, but further offshore.
Posted by: wedding reception las vegas | January 04, 2012 at 06:42 AM
I suspect there is still some serious engineering to be done to insure long lifetime in the marine environment. Wave power would make a nice complement to wind and solar.
Posted by: Las Vegas Lakeside Weddings | January 06, 2012 at 02:27 AM