news gCaptain
World’s First Wave Farm Tim Konrad Total Views: 62 May 15, 2009 In an effort to bring our readers more “green” stories, we take a look at the worlds first wave farm off the coast of Portugal. dvice.com brings us more on this new technology that is powering over 1,500 homes. There’s power in them thar waves! That’s why Portugal built Agucadoura, the world’s first wave farm off its coast, consisting of three Wave Energy Converters [also known as Pelamis P-750 machines] generating a total of 2.25MW. The elongated metal contraptions bob up and down with the waves, while internal pistons, attached to the sea floor, remain stationary and pump hydraulic fluid. This drives electric generators, whose power is brought ashore by underwater electrical cables. The wave farm is now tapping into enough constant, renewable energy to power 1500 homes. Who knew there was so much power in the ocean waves? If we laid these 459-foot orange caterpillars all over the world’s oceans, we could tap 2 terawatts of power, twice the consumption of the entire world. That’s not exactly practical, but a smaller-scale rollout of such generators might be a clean power alternative, ready to be snapped up by an energy-starved planet. More info and photos HERE The farm officially opened in September of 2008 using three Pelamis P-750 machines capable of generating a total of 2.25 MW, with capacity set to increase to 21MW after a second phase is introduced. More Links, Photos and Video’s….. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFD4vgHGEj4 Links gCaptain: Alternative Energy From Our Oceans California’s PG&E Takes the Plunge into Wave Power Sea machine makes waves in Europe Portugal to Host World’s First Wave Farm Wikipedia: Wave Farms Tags: green power Marine Technology Editorial Standards · Corrections · About gCaptain Subscribe for Daily Maritime Insights Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update — trusted by our 105,239 members Prev Back to Main Next Stay Informed. Stay Connected. Get Th
World’s First Wave Farm
gCaptain
Read full article at gCaptain →
Opens gCaptain in a new tab