Oyster wave power device deployed off Orkney

www.energyefficiencynews.com
Sun, 2 Aug 09

Aquamarine Power's innovative Oyster wave power device is being installed on the seabed in the Atlantic off the coast of the Orkney Islands, where it will start demonstration trials this autumn. The Oyster device is a large hydraulic oscillator fitted with pistons that, when activated by the action of waves, pump water under high pressure through a pipeline to the shore. Onshore, conventional hydroelectric generators convert the high-pressure water into electricity.

The concept is based on fundamental research carried out at Queen's University Belfast. "Oyster's technology is highly innovative because it relies on simplicity," says Ronan Doherty, chief technical officer at Aquamarine Power. "Its offshore component – a highly reliable flap with minimal submerged moving parts – is the key to its success when operating in seas vulnerable to bad weather where maintenance can be very difficult."

Doherty adds that as there is no underwater generator, electronics or gearbox and all the power generation equipment in onshore, where it is easily accessible. The system is designed to be deployed in near-shore regions at depths of 12-16 m, where wave action tends to be more consistent and less variable in direction. The smaller size of waves near the shore also maximises the lifetime of the device and the consistency of power generation.

Each Oyster device has a peak capacity of 300-600 kW but is designed to be deployed in multiple arrays. Although still in the early stages of development, Aquamarine Power believes that the device could have great potential. "Our computer modelling of coastlines suitable for this technology shows that Spain, Portugal, Ireland and the UK are ideal candidates in Europe," says Doherty. "But globally there is huge scope in areas like the North West coast of the USA and coastlines off South Africa, Australia and Chile." The company says it believes the potential size of the market for the Oyster technology could be in excess of £50 billion.

For further information:
www.aquamarinepower.com
www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/WelcometoSustainableDevelopmentatQueens/RelatedResearch/