The Generator That Proves Ocean Energy Can Work
For the first time in Australia's history, a wave energy converter trial has successfully generated energy from the chaotic and wild ocean waves to power homes.
For years, companies around the world have tried to harness the power of the ocean, with varying degrees of success.
"This is really the first project that has successfully generated electricity for a customer, and that goes to prove that ocean energy can work," Stephanie Thornton from Australian Ocean Energy Group said.
Sitting off the King Island coast in Bass Strait, the unit — made by Melbourne company Wave Swell Energy — has been generating power for the island's local energy grid for the past year.
"It's a huge success from our point of view," King Island mayor Julie Arnold said.
"It's providing power for the island, it's renewable, it's a method that could be used in other places so we're very happy to be pioneering it.
"We're a community that does look at our environment every day, certainly with a lot of what's going on around the world, I think more and more importance is being placed on environmentally sustainable ways to provide power."
Australia's first successful trial
"It's really exciting for us," said chief CEO of Wave Swell Energy Paul Geason.
"We've been very focused on this trial and proving the capabilities of the technology we deployed …and now 12 months later we've achieved what we set out to do.
"We've been generating electricity from the waves of the southern ocean that have been captured in the unit, that was our primary objective.
"That 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."
"The conversion rates that we've been able to achieve in terms of the amount of electricity we are able to extract from the wave energy that comes into the unit is very high," Mr Geason said.
"On average, we've been able to achieve conversion rates of 48 per cent, so 48 per cent of the energy that comes in, in the wave, is then exported onto the grid on King Island.
"That rate is very encouraging and in fact is higher than other renewable energy technologies."
Why did it work while others failed?
The team behind it said its success all came down to the unique design.
The $12 million unit was constructed in Launceston and extensively tested at the Australian Maritime College.
It was towed across last year to King Island and placed in the rough waves off Grassy Harbour.
Since then, the team have been tested it in a range of harsh weather conditions.
"We have now operated the unit and it has survived for the last 12 months in the very harsh conditions of Bass Strait … and we've achieved the objectives we set out to achieve," Mr Geason said.
"Now we find ourselves in a position where we've proven the technology and the next stage is now to move forward and commercialise the technology and see it become mainstream as part of the global mix of renewable energies."
The 200-kilowatt wave energy converter has no moving parts in the water and uses an oscillating water column design, which essentially mimics a natural blow hole.
Waves go in, rise and fall, and move air up into the turbine, which then converts into power.
It sits on the seabed and has an opening on one side to allow the movement of the waves in and out of the chamber.
The company said there was a trial in Scotland that was having success too, but that was mainly using tidal energy and did not have the blowhole design.
'Seeing is believing'
As defined by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, wave energy is generated by converting the energy within ocean waves into electricity.
Tidal energy, however, comes in two forms, both of which generate electricity.
Tidal range technologies harvest the potential energy created by the height difference between high and low tides, and tidal stream technologies capture the kinetic energy of currents flowing in and out of tidal areas, such as seashores.
"We have something to showcase that works and now we can build on that and build that customer demand that we're looking for," said Stephanie Thornton from the Australian Ocean Energy Group.
"What's really exciting for me is that seeing is believing, and up until now even though there's been a lot of innovation, a lot of the technology has not been very visible.
"So with this success, where it goes from here is now to see many more prototypes and demonstration projects in the water and really being able to showcase the benefits of ocean energy."
Using the ocean for energy is a concept many companies have tried to harness.
In 2010, a large wave sunk a wave energy generator off the New South Wales coast, and in 2014 in South Australia, a unit was being towed into position when one of the flotation devices ruptured and it sank.
Since then, there have been other units trailed and funding committed for research.
Can more units now be made?
The unit can be made five times larger than the pilot converter and placed off any coastline anywhere in the world.
Wave Swell said it was open to working with interested companies who would provide the funding and resources to build future units.
"In terms of the commercial scale-up … it will most likely be a bigger unit, and also have a bigger engine, so at least five times bigger," Mr Geason said.
"So for us, it 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 being part of a breakwater or sea wall in the ocean — off Pacific Island Nations, for example — to help combat rising sea levels and coastal erosion.
"There are sovereign governments in those islands that are very concerned to ensure that they are building resilient infrastructure so that's also presenting as a very considerable opportunity for us," he said.
"There's also interest out of Europe, in the United States and India, so we need to identify which projects are the next step for the technology."
"We would hope that maybe seeing it work here on a pilot basis might give them some hope," Ms Arnold said.
An ocean of possibilities ahead
Wave Swell said it would "love" to see another unit operating off the Australian coastline.
"Given we are an emerging technology, the very obvious market for us to pursue is the Australian market," Mr Geason said.
"The Australian oceans have some of the best waves in the world, and waves that are well located to grid access, and to electricity demand, many of us live on the coastline."
But Mr Geason said more support for the industry was needed.
"Solar and wind have received substantial government support … wave is now in that position, it needs policy support and funding, that's vital for the industry taking its next steps," he said.
Experts in the field have said the stigma around wave energy converters failing also needed to change for the sector to move forward.
"Every technology in the world has had failures, but that's really part of experimenting and learning from it and reinventing and growing, so that's the challenge," Ms Arnold said.
"In our industry, people remember the ones that didn't work, and think, 'Oh well that's ocean energy, so it can't possibly be successful', when in fact that's not true and this unit has proven that.
"It's exciting … I hope demand for ocean energy grows from here."
Comments
I wonder how it deals with tidal variations !
The oceans energy is there, the weight of all that water! Immense! All of the oceans around the globe and is constantly moving! Yes, harvest it! But with an environmentally sound method that benefits and not impedes the amazing underwater world with its rich sea life.
I'm surprised that tidal energy isn't being harnessed for this as well, maybe the velocity of tidal flow isn't strong enough compared to the vigorous wave energy, Fabulous news, well done folks.
This is the future happening now. We need to develop these ideas ASAP in order to survive. We are surrounded by oceans with unlimited energy to help us to generate power in a sustainable way, this appears to be part of the answer to our biggest challenge: Climate Change!
Not the first attempt to generate electricity from Bass Strait's energy.
A couple of blokes back in 1906 built a steel ball and attached it to the reef at sphinx rock in Sorrento below the high tide level, it was linked to a generator by steel rods and chains on the cliffs at Sphinx. Apparently, it lit a light globe for a period of time before it got damaged and washed up after a big swell.
The Ball is mounted in front of the Historical museum in Sorrento, most people assume it's an old underwater sea mine. https://www.facebook.com/groups/150875155104742/permalink/18451344507424...
A plan of the Steel ball set up.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=566583463412583&set=p.5665834634...
Great idea - they just need to add 2 underwater angled arms off the sides so we can left and right waves as well .. oh and wave powered spot lights so we can surf 24hrs.
Love the pursuit of a cleaner, greener planet, but its ironic that to do so requires more man-made eyesores in natural environments.
Ironic indeed, and why do we need so much energy?
Reform. We need to use less energy globally but we dont seem to be able to do that. We unfortunately need more energy, simply put we are a global nation of ‘shaggers’, we cant stop rooting and thus increasing the population which is about 7.76Billion and growing. There are way too many people on the planet and they all need energy in some form or the other whether it be for food, housing, school, workplace, manufacturing etc. Just look around your own town or nearby, I’ve never seen so many houses being built (squeezed ) into small little nook and crannies, once green wedges, very disheartening indeed. Maybe we need a Global One Child policy, because that’s what’s killing the planet.
Roystein. More man-made eyesores in natural environments? How many more chimney stacks do you need in the La Trobe and Hunter valleys to qualify for man-made eyesores ? All feedback is good for the discussion, the pessimism by a few on this topic is surprising. Next you’ll tell us that wind turbines are eye-sores. We need stop anthropomorphic emotions from getting in the way of sensibility, we’ve become a society more worried about the AESTHETICS than their useful PRACTICAL uses. As Michael Franti, upfront guy for the band ‘The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy” once said in the song ‘Television The Drug of The Nation’, Americans are more worried about how their teeth look than the words that come out of it. So true. Back to basics for Oz and we might get somewhere.
Great to hear a success story, but it ain't always the case (the links below are all from Australian projects in the last nine years):
Wave Rider abandons Elliston wave energy project half-way through trial (2013)
World’s “biggest” wave energy project sinks without trace after US-company Ocean Power Technologies abandons $232m plant off Portland (2014)
Oceanlinx wave generator to be removed from Port Kembla after company goes into receivership 2015)
Oceanlinx wave energy generator wrecked off Carrickalinga to become artificial reef (2018)
Carnegie Clean Energy enters administration after Albany wave farm contract scrapped (2019)
$24m Port Fairy Wave Energy Project decommissioned after technical challenges in 'harsh marine environment'; system 'failed to produce any electricity' (2019)
The South Australian unit sank before making it to its proposed destination.
Hard to know if it would have been a success, but some of the same individuals are involved in this project.
Udo. I need your help, I’m a bit of a dinosaur on computers you seem to know a bit about uploading.
I’ve never attempted it. How do you add a photo into these comment boxes, any help would be appreciated. Thanks.AW.
Located at Grassy Harbour [waveless] so probably should be called Ocean Motion rather than Wave Swell ?
https://www.tasports.com.au/news/new-arrival-making-waves-at-the-port-of...
Grassy side of King Island is pretty low swell. The harbour even more so. In a real storm it would be toast.
Fixed to sea floor. So near the coast.
Imagine thousands of these lining our shoreline.
Better renewable options around to my mind.
The angle of the coast from Grassy to stokes faces slightly more south than the surf coast, it gets plenty of swell.
Yay - a win!
The CEo speaks about poritnal on Alaska for the US. I wonder How many structures crating power (for Alaska) would be needed in their ocean to generate power for 82 million homes? I love the idea.
How do the green side of politics like the idea of these structures being connected to the bottom of the ocean in pristine or beautiful ocean seaside environments?
Sounds like it sits on the seabed, as opposed to a permanent fixture.
Coal and container ships lay 100m to 200m of anchor chain on the seabed while moored at sea, and this morning there were at least a dozen coals ships offshore here at Wollongong - which makes it an average day. Could it be worse than that?
Also, not sure about the 82M homes. If they're creating power for Alaska then that's power for less than a milion people.
Good to see others out there putting effort into a better future.
Spokesperson from AOEG: "What's really exciting for me is that seeing is believing, and up until now even though there's been a lot of innovation, a lot of the technology has not been very visible."
Here's another Aussie group with over a decade's experience of wave energy development, leading the way: Carnegie Clean Energy (https://www.carnegiece.com/).
Time's have changed I guess. The guy who tried to introduce hempseed oil = diesel to the world had his life cut short,Cause hemp could grow everywhere, not so much peanuts.
I hope this does find its place in places with minimal impact to the foreshore
They need to be able to respond intelligently to changes in the environment (wind/swell/tides) so that the units can be situated appropriately depending on swell conditions. Otherwise we will just be waiting to hear of the next sinking boat. If it’s done cleverly and environmentally responsibly - with a willingness to bear costs when rough weather etc, slip into safe harbours and follow the rhythms of nature, then maybe it could work. I hope so- on the face of it, it beats the crap out burning more fossil fuels. But bear in mind it’s been pretty quiet oceans down that way for a couple of years. It’s all about awareness really. Eg. If this happens, then we do that! You have to have a clear cut responsive action plan for different conditions. I believe it can and will be done. This is no time in history to be sitting on our hands. Bold action is required at this point in climate history - we have to get behind right action and support it. I love reading intelligent ideas from surfers, because I know there are some very smart surfers and ocean people who really care about our waters and their precious ecosystems.
If it's anchored to the floor then it's going to need some of the silicon valley design brains to make it visually appealing, or at least less unappealing. Or it'll need to be in places there's not a lot of residential sight lines.
In that first video he didn't do a very good job at explaining how it could be used as a coastal adaptation structure. Basically he's talking about a whole row of these, or even linked up, across the mouth of an embayment subject to coastal erosion risks from wave action (which we've seen there are plenty along the coast). I'd be interested in seeing the modelling if it's not a continuous, unbroken line of them (i.e. wave energy still getting through). If it's unbroken right across an embayment then the whole thing could be encased with a foot/bikepath along the top. Not only that but if the tidal range is there could make it a dual system where it captures the outgoing tidal energy (basically acts like a hydropower dam) for days where there's insufficient swell action going on (and it would allow turnover of the water behind the wall). On the inshore side could event install a reef system to enhance hte biodiversity of the setting and provide a nursey environment for key specieis.
I wonder why it's only unidirectional. Seems like a lost opportunity to convert the kinetic energy of the air being pushed out during the first past of the process. Have a turbine for expulsion of the air, which has a brake function as soon as the sucking begins, and then a separate turbine is basically the inversion, functions only on inhalation of air with a simply brake mechanism (like on bmx bike) as soon as the air tries to make it go the wrong direction.
One thing with this is the effect on seabirds (ironic given all the hyperventalating about wind turbines). Seabirds will definitely land on these things, so appropriate mesh to prevent them being sucked in and/or deterrences (do owls from Bunnings work in a marine environment?) will need to be put in place.
Could the unidirectional thing be in regards to lifespan of the parts in the turbine. If pushing out air compressed in the chamber, it could contain more salt? Though if coming in from just outside maybe there isn't much difference?
Possibly reversing the turbine spin so quickly isn't ideal?
Good to see successful developments in this space though.
From there Website :
Most previous wave energy technologies have been developed for deep water applications, requiring floating units. Floating objects are inherently less efficient at absorbing the energy in waves. And, in almost all cases, these technologies have been reliant on moving parts in the water, which have often been their downfall. Having moving parts in the water results in prohibitively high maintenance costs, particularly when the technology is located in deep water. The WSE technology involves no moving parts in the water. The only moving parts – the turbine and the simple flap valves – are located well above the water line. In addition, the technology involves no oils, lubricants or contaminants.
The technology is based on the concept of a unidirectional OWC, the first such case in the world. Tests at the Australian Maritime College (AMC) in Launceston have confirmed the unidirectional OWC converts more energy from the waves than traditional bidirectional versions. The company is looking forward to demonstrating the positive results of this innovation.
More closely related to the WSE technology, though, is the class of technologies known as oscillating water columns (OWCs). All previous OWC technologies have been bidirectional, requiring air turbines that operate on reversing flow. This necessitates either an inefficient turbine, a more complex turbine with pitching blades, or a complicated system requiring the redirection of flow on each cycle. The WSE technology, however, is fundamentally different in that it utilises unidirectional flow allowing for a simpler, more robust, more efficient and cheaper air turbine.
The technology is based on the concept of a unidirectional OWC, the first such case in the world. Tests at the Australian Maritime College (AMC) in Launceston have confirmed the unidirectional OWC converts more energy from the waves than traditional bidirectional versions. The company is looking forward to demonstrating the positive results of this innovation.
seem legit, thanks!
Yeah thanks.
These guys are scaling up in the US. Already have working pilots in place.
https://calwave.energy/
Different approach. Way more mature to my mind. Their units operate below the surface in small groups of generators. So no eyesore or threat to shipping.
Ocean renewable energy is coming.
Those are just below the surface and not visible, that's worse for shipping and navigation
As Roystein said, it’s a pity that the green energy projects have their own environmental issues.
Not sure what this proposed “Star of the South” offshore wind turbine project would do to the Muttonbirds or Albatross off the Gippsland coast, but I don’t think it would be good.
https://amp.abc.net.au/article/101280796
MASSIVE HOAX.
They are hiding all the detail to fool you. The most important facts are missing.
1. $12 million - what are the ongoing maintenance costs in rough salt water conditions ??
2. What is the ACTUAL daily average power output (they cleverly just quote a peak value).
3. What Govt subsidies will/are runnig it.
4. How may decades (if ever ) it takes to break even over Coal Prices.
And what is the point while the Govt allows huge Ford V8 Mustangs; those new giant V8 RAM trucks
and the large diesel SUVS and Utes etc all to be sold at the same time as they provide Green Subsidies elsewhere ??
Ban the wastage first - exessive sized vehicles; stop plane trips for holidays (only medical or family emergencies) and many other initiatives before green subsidies.
UniWave 200 King Island Project – On behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced $4 million in funding to Wave Swell Energy Limited to install a pilot-scale wave energy converter off the coast of King Island, Tasmania.
The $12.3 million project will involve the design, construction, installation and operation of the 200 kW wave energy device off the coast of King Island.
I'm sure climate changers won't mind these moored directly off their water front homes. I'll stick to cheap, reliable coal fired power.
It's all smoke and mirrors.. it's not going to better us realistically!! I can't see the government helping it's people,the past is a catastrophic blood bath. Our future is in the hands of fools.Corruption rain's supreme! Sell all our gas so we have none( so they say) (petrol)reduce production to inflate prices! Hope for the best but shits just insane. They did this big who ha thing with the covid BS but half-ass foot and mouth. Imagine Aussie beef industry wiped out.. the elite gov and msm have us all stitched up. I agree something's got to be done,but I have my doubts!!
To all those who would prefer to keep burning Coal and fuck over their kids future.
You are now burning your own future [and present] as unless you've been living in a cave, we are already seeing massive climate change happening right now.
A fucked-up planet will cost us a whole lot more than subsidizing new Green Tech.
I am not saying this tech is a perfect solution to our energy woes but it's at least trying to provide some solutions and may be great tech in years to come. Solar panels took a long time to develop and become cheap enough for the mainstream, as do ALL new technologies.
To keep burning coal is just insane no matter how you look at it, because it WILL fuck this planet and everything on it, and possibly within our lifetimes.
1 square mile of solar panels in Utah could power the USA apparently.
Not so simple of course but well placed solar farms would be preferable to thousands of clunky wave generators lined up along the coast.
@Frog
Solar panels surely are making a huge impact, but not not sure where you got those figures from, because that's WAY off. Way, way off.
Take a look at this link below. Largest planned solar farm in the world and it's 46 square miles. And it will only supply 20% of Energy requirements for Singapore. Going to take a lot more land to supply the needs of the Entire USA.
https://www.ecowatch.com/worlds-largest-solar-farm-singapore-australia-2...
Green energy will get more efficient but it still takes huge areas to generate electricity with the current solar tech.
That's another reason to invest in many different forms of green tech, as none of them alone are the solution to the entire world's energy needs.
Lots of Large ones still being built atm in the Right areas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_Australia
Can one be built that’s as portable as a boat, then when anchored facing into a ground swell and tethered to the grid and collecting energy from the rise nab fall af water in a large vertical tube. This tube would need to be firmly fixed to the ocean floor to enable it to harness the energy from the water movement within. Rather that fix in it it could be weighed down to stay in place, this could be done using a large bladder pumped full of water. To do it’s job well this bladder/ counterweight would need to be very heavy and well engineered and could also be shaped in a manner to make an A frame with the energy tube in the middle where the basic accomodation would be for the lucky operator.
They're extremely heavy, and therefore not really portable.
Not sure exactly how they connect to the power grid, but I believe there is a fixed connection so again not really possible to make them portable.
just for a price reference. this 200kW unit cost $12 million. 200kW of PV costs $200,000. so it has a long, long way to go before its competitive with small commercial solar let alone utility which can be as low as $25/MWh LCOE. as a surfer i want this to work. as an energywonk i know its very unlikely. the ocean is harsh. we all know that. happy to be proven wrong.
Seems a brilliant idea to me but I don't think the Boat version is much of a viable option for most areas.
Having it built into a Rock-groin/seawall would be a much less expensive and far more likely to withstand the ocean's rage. We already have Rock-groins along most of our built-up coastlines so you wouldn't need to add new infrastructure, just modify what is already there. You could also integrate a sand pumping system into it so as to cheaply move sand that gets stuck due to the groin's shape preventing long-shore sand drift. [Like a mini Tweed-River-Sand-Bypass system for every groin.]
It's also good for people to realize that Solar and wind are just not viable in large parts of the world, so we really need some ocean tech to help fill the gaps in providing clean energy.
What about taking advantage of the flat vertical sides of waveswell uniwave unit and configure into a Greg Webber 'V' wall and therefore create surfing waves as well.
Or just have one leg of the 'V' branching off the side of a breakwall.
As far as anchoring any structure in rough seas, suction piles are the go, this is how they anchored the Troll A gas rig platform in the North Sea.
Webber V-Walls do not exist and never will
Isn't this Machine only designed for low swell areas?
Does anyone remember that guy Nikola Tesla who was creating wireless energy generators in the 1800s that could draw free energy from the atmosphere?
Why are people so impressed by giant year 7 science projects? We've literally had far more advanced technology for 100 years....
These Postcard shots disguise the bigger picture.
Most of the infrastructure is buried or not mentioned.
This hidden vital infrastructure dictates the locale not the mobile Wave driven blowhole.
The mobile Wave powered Blowhole delivers power to the grid...but how & where?
The cable links to an inshore seabed sub station (Not Shown)
This is likely off limits to beachgoers...meaning "Private secured > Beach Leasing [ No thru access ]"
Along with like Helicopter Pads / Drones / Seaweed Farms prohibiting Access as in (Beach Closed)
From this Seabed Sub station...or wave Hub.
The exposed Transmission cable/s hug the seabed until shore line.
Usually at or near the Wave break zone the cable is buried as it rises up the beach beneath the Dunes.
Without knowing more ... tbb reckons that's because of a risk / danger factor!
See the Photo & note the Backhoe sitting idle near the hollow in the dunes.
From the top or the Beach on the foreshore the Trans' cable hooks into the Transformer.
Point of Coupling...then feeds into the sub station onto substantial local poles & wires.
Basically this needs to be powerful enough to accept the feed to the grid...
We're talking about beefing up the grid to support this source of power...(As other Oz renewables)
So! Technically Yes! Can surf the Wave Machine anywhere that has a solid Power Grid on shore.
Otherwise it would be pointless or too expensive...pretty much for Wealthy Nations with solid grids.
Many Poor Nations suffer erosion at supply ports or sea walls so again Yes...still doable!
We could envisage these in wealthy Ports or beach towns...but!
You first need a safe haven for said Undersea Substation Wave Hub > On shore Transformer Station.
Erosion sites usually have turbulent seabeds not suitable for the safe operation of Wave Hub converter.
Surely it would get bashed to bits & cable swinging about the inshore zone (Like wayward shark nets!)
Yes! A real wild card hazard that needs isolating during each Storm. (re: Bring in the nets or Converters!)
Cart before the horse type situation...only we don't see these smoke & mirrors...well kinda / Maybe!
Photo : Shows the Moon Crater in front of Newly Transformed Half Moon Barracks.
Also note the large [P] turnaround + Poles'n'wires Junction. (Too perfect of a site & all too easy!)
Not all sites are as easy or affordable as this cakewalk.
One must allow a 1km access site of Prime beachfront to hook this up & to service cables.
Depends on each council as to Public Access thru a Power Substation...(Usually Zero)
Now we're talking resuming properties in Prime locations as if a Stormwater / Sewage Outlet.
tbb is not educated to rate Power cabling (vs) Contamination risks, but councils often prohibit access.
It's what we don't see that decides who gets what...we're only shown this here pretty face!
Look a little deeper to envisage the viability in wealthy seachange havens > Might not stack up!
Sure! tbb thinks this Oz tech is great as is the story...just sharing the obvious ...Where do ya plug it in?
Sketches of Typical Wave Power to shore Power Grid + bits'n'pieces to expose the bigger picture.
tbb can't obviously see what isn't there, only compare to what is usually needed to support this tech!
Any can see...there is much more logistics and interplay in a lively setting of great importance.
https://engr.source.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/02/NRE...
https://www.power-technology.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2017/09/1-W...
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/b18f9c84-76c0-44d1-a66d-07e77a...
Ahh. Just saw this after last post. This is brilliant. Not sure how i missed this one.
Cheers SN!
Any follow up on the progress a year later?
Ahh. Just saw this after last post. This is brilliant. Not sure how i missed this one.
Cheers SN!
Any follow up on the progress a year later?