Development of Wave Generation Plants


The waves that surfers enjoy riding, and the bane of existence for seasickness sufferers on ships and boats can also be used to generate electricity. Using the power of waves in the oceans or other large bodies of water is in actual fact another way of harnessing the power of the wind to generate electricity.
Wave power generation is a relatively new form of generating electricity, and this shows in the number and size of plants currently in operation, generating power using the waves. And unlike wind power generation using turbines, where the basic concept of blades and a turbine is the same, there are still many variants of wave power plants each with unique design characteristics and features.
Still in its infancy, there has not been a fully commissioned plant with an installed capacity larger than 2.5MW. In comparison, a single onshore wind turbine can have a capacity higher than this. Though, with the technological developments taking place, and the feasibility of these power sources with the rising cost of electricity generated using fossil fuels, wave energy development is looking promising.
Funding has been a problem for wave generation plants. Up till now, the world’s first, and largest project utilising wave power, the Aguçadoura Wave Farm, only operated for a few months before funding ran out and investors pulled back.

“Conventional” wind and solar power have been able to grow to the level they are now, in which they are self sustaining, only because they were supported by subsidies and government grants. For wave power to succeed and to enjoy the advantages of scale, investment will need to take place from private enterprise, but also using public funds. This will only be further incentivised with rising oil and gas costs, and a continued push for renewable power generation. 

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