2MW wave power generator in Spain

[dan_b]

https://electrek.co/2022/04/11/eco-wave ... wer-plant/

Funny looking thing.

[AE-NMidlands]

Interesting, and a nice idea, but I wonder how robust they will turn out to be?

Apparently been working on Gibraltar since 2018 (if it still is.)
A

[Bugtownboy]

I suppose it’s better than a turbine blade being sand blasted when submerged and at least it’s accessible without bringing the generator to the surface.

Looks like it should be fairly easy to install.

One drawback, how does it deal with tidal ranges ?

[AE-NMidlands]

One drawback, how does it deal with tidal ranges ?

Maybe that's why it is only in the Med: Gib, Mallorca and Israel! Gib seems to be about a metre.

Pity they call them "floaters" too! Why not just "floats?"

[Moxi]

Reminds me of the gadget they built on planet mechanics where they mounted a Wind turbine in a tube and popped one end in the water on a harbour wall the rising and falling water column from the waves ran the turbine - anyone remember that ?

Moxi

[AE-NMidlands]

Reminds me of the gadget they built on planet mechanics where they mounted a Wind turbine in a tube and popped one end in the water on a harbour wall the rising and falling water column from the waves ran the turbine - anyone remember that ?
Moxi

Another good idea, but I suppose it needs a good cost-benefit assessment to see whether the materials and fabrication will cost less than the power generated - taking into account the carbon costs too.

Would be fun to do if you had the right location, DIY, salvaged materials, developer on hand to keep repairing it!
I have also seen the "wave organ" at Blackpool, but it doesn't take much power to blow a horn!
A

[Moxi]

Not the planet mechanic one but actually commercially operating system in two locations.

I wonder why we don’t see more of these around the British isles ?

Moxi

[AE-NMidlands]

That's good, but I would have thought that a lot of the time it will be working continuously in salt-water spray. Very careful detailing and material specifications needed...
A

[Moxi]

Yes that was my thoughts too corrosion will be a big consideration and imbalance of the blades with water droplets and salt deposits - perhaps this is why we are not seeing more of these but it does seem an easy to deploy technology on promenades and sea walls and harbour groins all around the country - I wonder how many and therefore what power capacity the harbour groin at Holyhead could sustain ?

In terms of impact to the eye they are "invisible" not sure what the noise levels would be though?

Anyone ever visited the one in Scotland ?

Moxi

[Oliver90owner]

Where is this spray? The oscillating water and air are inside the structure. The water simply rises and falls when opersting, so while suitable materials would obviously need to be specified, the construction seems to pose few problems.