The generator that 'proves ocean energy can work' is already powering homes
For the first time in Australian history, a trial run of a wave energy converter has succeeded in generating energy from chaotic and wild ocean waves to a power plant.
Key points:
- Australia can now use the ocean for power generation after trials on King Island proved successful in generating energy
- This unit can now be commercialized and made up to five times larger and placed off any coast, anywhere in the world.
- Industry experts are “very happy” with the successful pilot, hope it now opens the door to the industry
For years, companies around the world have tried to harness the power of the sea, with varying degrees of success.
“This is truly the first project to successfully generate electricity for a customer, and it proves that ocean energy can work,” said Stephanie Thornton of the Australian Ocean Energy Group.
Located off Raja Island in Bass Strait, the unit – created by Melbourne company Wave Swell Energy – has been generating electricity for the island’s local energy grid for the past year.
“It’s a huge success from our point of view,” said King Island mayor Julie Arnold.
“It provides electricity for the island, it’s renewable, it’s a method that can be used elsewhere, so we’re really excited to be pioneering it.
“We are a community that looks at our environment every day, of course with so much going on around the world, I think more and more importance is being placed on environmentally friendly ways to provide electricity.”
First successful trial in Australia
“This is very exciting for us,” said Wave Swell Energy chief CEO Paul Geason.
“We were very focused on testing this and proving the capabilities of the technology we were using … and now 12 months later we have achieved what we planned.
“We have generated electricity from the southern ocean waves captured in the unit, that is our main goal.
“The electricity is of a very high quality and has been accepted by Hydro Tasmania as suitable for the grid on King Island, so that’s a very important achievement.”
Load
The company says the UniWave200 has generated enough energy for 200 homes.
“The conversion rate we were able to achieve in terms of the amount of electricity we could extract from the wave energy going into the unit was very high,” said Geason.
“On average, we were able to achieve a conversion rate of 48 percent, so 48 percent of the energy that goes in, in waves, is then exported to the grid on Raja Island.
“That level is very encouraging and even higher than other renewable energy technologies.”
Why did it work while others failed?
The team behind it says its success all boils down to its unique design.
The $12 million unit was built in Launceston and extensively tested at the Australian Maritime College.
It was pulled across last year to King Island and placed in rough waves at Grassy Harbour.
Since then, the team has tested it in a variety of harsh weather conditions.
“We have now operated the unit and have endured the last 12 months in the very harsh conditions of Bass Strait … and we have achieved the goals we wanted to achieve,” said Geason.
“Now we find ourselves in a position where we have proven the technology and the next stage now is to move forward and commercialize the technology and see it go mainstream as part of the global renewable energy mix.”
The 200 kilowatt wave energy converter has no moving parts in the water and uses an oscillating water column design, essentially mimicking a natural blowhole.
The waves enter, rise and fall, and move the air up into the turbine, which is then converted into power.
It sits on the ocean floor and has an opening on one side to allow the movement of waves in and out of the room.
The company said there was a trial in Scotland that was also successful, but that it used mainly tidal energy and did not have a blowhole design.
‘Seeing is believing’
As defined by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, wave energy is generated by converting the energy in ocean waves into electricity.
Tidal energy, however, comes in two forms, both of which generate electricity.
Tidal range technology makes use of the potential energy created by the difference in height between high and low tides, and tidal current technology captures the kinetic energy of currents flowing in and out of a tidal area, such as a beach.
“We have something to showcase that works and now we can build on it and build on the customer demand we are looking for,” said Stephanie Thornton of the Australian Ocean Energy Group.
“What’s really exciting for me is seeing is believing, and until now despite a lot of innovation, a lot of technology hasn’t been seen.
“So with this success, from here on now to see more prototypes and demonstration projects in the water and really be able to demonstrate the benefits of ocean energy.”
Using the ocean for energy is a concept that many companies are trying to capitalize on.
In 2010, a large wave drowned a wave energy generator off the coast of New South Wales, and in 2014 in South Australia, a unit was being pulled into position when one of the flotation devices broke and sank.
Since then, there have been other units trailing and funding research.
Can more units now be made?
This unit can be made five times larger than a pilot converter and placed offshore anywhere in the world.
Wave Swell said it was open to working with interested companies that would provide funding and resources to build future units.
“In terms of commercial scale … it will most likely be a bigger unit, and also have a bigger engine, so it’s at least five times bigger,” said Geason.
“So for us, that means finding those parties and we will work with them, bringing our knowledge and know-how to help them.”
The units can also be integrated into part of breakwaters or seawalls in the oceans — off the coasts of Pacific Island States, for example — to help combat rising sea levels and coastal erosion.
“There is a sovereign government on the islands that cares a lot about ensuring that they build a resilient infrastructure so that is also a very big opportunity for us,” he said.
“There is also interest from Europe, in the United States and India, so we need to identify which projects are the next steps for this technology.”
“We hope that maybe seeing him working here as a pilot can give them hope,” Arnold said.
The ocean of possibility ahead
Wave Swell said it would be “pleased” to see another unit operating off the coast of Australia.
“Given that we are a new technology, a very clear market for us to pursue is the Australian market,” said Geason.
“Australia’s oceans have some of the best waves in the world, and the waves are well situated for grid access, and for electricity needs, many of us live on coastlines.”
But Mr Geason said more support for the industry was needed.
“Solar and wind have received substantial government support … the wave is now in that position, it needs policy support and funding, it’s important for the industry to take the next step,” he said.
Experts in the field say the stigma surrounding failed wave energy converters also needs to change for the sector to move forward.
“Every technology in the world has experienced failure, but it’s really part of experimentation and learning from it and reinvention and growth, so that’s the challenge,” Arnold said.
“In our industry, people remember what doesn’t work, and think, ‘Oh, that’s ocean energy, so it can’t work’, which is not true and this unit has proven it.
“It’s interesting … I expect marine energy demand to grow from here.”
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