Agucadoura Generating Power for 1,500 Homes
As the conventional sources of energy are dwindling, scientists are continuously looking for alternative sources of energy. We are frequently reading about generation of alternative and clean energy from unconventional sources. Portugal built Agucadoura, the world’s first wave farm off its coast. This wave farm has three Wave Energy Converters which are producing a total of 2.25MW.
YouTube: Pelamis Wave Generator | More Videos
If we can trap the wave power of oceans as a new alternative energy resource most of our energy crisis can be resolved. It is estimated that if we can install these 142m long wave energy converters all over the world’s oceans, 2 terawatts of power can be harnessed — twice the consumption of the entire world. We all know that this kind of alternative energy solution will be quite impractical to implement but we can definitely trap the ocean wave clean powerhouses for small-scale rollout. These types of alternative energy resources can provide the necessary respite for an energy-starved planet.
Currently four cylindrical caterpillar-look-alike converters are being used to harness the wave power. These carbon steel cylindrical wave energy converters are 142m long and weigh 700 ton. They are designed and built by Pelamis Wave Power generating a total of 2.25MW. These wave energy converters produce clean electricity for 1,500 homes at peak hours. The Agucadoura station will open another 25 Pelamis units later on, thus generating 21MW of power. They will save 60,000 tons of CO2 per year compared to a conventional fossil fuel plant. Humankind has realized that ocean waves can prove to be good alternative energy resources.
Each wave converter consists of four articulated sections. When the waves move up and down these four sections move too. At the hinges between sections, hydraulic rams utilize the wave motion to drive generators, producing power. This energy is transported by underwater electrical cable to the Agucadoura substation and fed into the Portuguese national grid.
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November 8th, 2008
It’s a good idea but it is still going to assist systems of dependency. I think a sustainable future lies in creating systems of independence which means we are able to look after and manage all our own power needs, wastes and transport problems. Want to know how specifically? Post a comment here or send me an email enquiry: mercuryvapour88 at yahoo dot com dot au.
November 26th, 2008
What is the cost / Kw of the electricity produced by this Wave method (considering all costs – life cycle). I will be interested to know the cost / Kw to produce electricity by various methods.
Cheers
Vish
November 30th, 2008
Just 2 TW from covering all the oceans?
It’s unlikely that even 1% will be covered in any reasonable timeframe. Oceans are vast.
December 22nd, 2008
Adam : have you some specific ideas?
December 23rd, 2008
Loic: yes, of course I have some specific ideas, lots of them in fact but most exist in a draft form and I’m just trying gather more info and hopefully find the right contacts. I’m afraid of telling too many people my ideas and then they will profit from them instead of me. I need some money to produce prototypes and patent my ideas. I have some plans lined up but it will take some time. I can discuss my ideas with you if you have money and are willing to have a confidential interview with me. My ideas are not really revolutionary but the complete concept and package is. All I can say is that the ideas I have lie in the housing industry.
February 22nd, 2009
I think this method of electricity generation is high potential. I believe that it would be most efficent if you put lots of bends in it. Let it flex like a snake. Each bend would have have shafts and a generator.
June 7th, 2009
I’m like Adam White I’ve got several ideas But don’t know where to go, or whom to talk to. Unlike Mr.White I’m not concerned about making large sums of money. I might be cheep but not free. I’m not a tree hugger but I do believe the need for clean renewable energy is going to have to be found and used. As of now I have 23 ideas and tried to find time to write outlines on them. I’ve even written letters but did not mail them, mostly because I did not have their addresses Like Mr. Al Gore who I feel is just a flag waver who likes going around petting himself on the back with his sky is falling speeches.
But mostly don’t want my ideas to be wasted by someone that who would only be thinking about their own personal gain. Whom ever grabs hold of these ideas must be able to think big. They would be worth billions with good returns on any investment.