Researchers at the Centre for Renewable Energy in Moscow have developed and patented a small wave power generator which they claim is very efficient, low cost and easy to manufacture.
To date wave and tidal power has been an also ran to offshore windfarms, but now the technology is beginning to mature. Wave power stations are operating in Norway and Portugal, there is an experimental tidal electric power station in the Kola Peninsula in Russia, Japan has beacons and lighthouses that are powered by wave energy, and in India, the Madras port lightship runs on wave energy.
The Russian system uses wave power to fill an onshore water storage tower with water, which flows out under the action of gravity, driving a turbine, as in a conventional hydro electric scheme. This have the significant advantage over other methods of reducing construction and maintenance costs, and making it easier to feed the electricity generated into the grid.
The design is currently at the prototype stage and this summer it is planned to test a full-scale model in real-life environment.
To date wave and tidal power has been an also ran to offshore windfarms, but now the technology is beginning to mature. Wave power stations are operating in Norway and Portugal, there is an experimental tidal electric power station in the Kola Peninsula in Russia, Japan has beacons and lighthouses that are powered by wave energy, and in India, the Madras port lightship runs on wave energy.
The Russian system uses wave power to fill an onshore water storage tower with water, which flows out under the action of gravity, driving a turbine, as in a conventional hydro electric scheme. This have the significant advantage over other methods of reducing construction and maintenance costs, and making it easier to feed the electricity generated into the grid.
The design is currently at the prototype stage and this summer it is planned to test a full-scale model in real-life environment.
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