Researchers have developed prototype technology that can double the power harvested from ocean waves, in an advance that could finally make wave energy a viable renewable alternative.

The untapped potential of ocean wave energy is vast – it has been estimated that the power of coastal waves around the world each year is equivalent to annual global electricity production.

With over 35,000 km of coastline, Australia is ideally placed to tap into this power source. Analysis shows Australia could produce twice its current electricity output by harvesting just 17% of its wave energy.

But the challenges of developing technologies that can efficiently extract that natural power and withstand the harsh ocean environment have kept wave energy stuck at experimental stage.

Now a research team led by RMIT University has created a wave energy converter that is twice as efficient at harvesting power as any similar technologies developed to date.

The innovation, published in the journal Applied Energy, relies on a world-first, dual-turbine design.

Lead researcher Professor Xu Wang said wave energy was one of the most promising sources of clean, reliable and renewable power.

“While wind and solar dominate the renewable market, they are available only 20-30% of the time,” Wang said.

“Wave energy is available 90% of the time on average and the potential power contained in offshore waves is immense.

“Our prototype technology overcomes some of the key technical challenges that have been holding back the wave energy industry from large-scale deployment.

“With further development, we hope this technology could be the foundation for a thriving new renewable energy industry delivering massive environmental and economic benefits.”

How the wave energy convertor works

One of the most popular experimental approaches is to harvest wave energy through a buoy-type converter known as a “point absorber”, which is ideal for offshore locations.

This technology, which harvests energy from the up and down movement of waves, is generally cost-effective to manufacture and install.

But it needs to be precisely synchronized with incoming wave movement to efficiently harvest the energy. This usually involves an array of sensors, actuators and control processors, adding complexity to the system that can cause underperformance, as well as reliability and maintenance issues.

The RMIT-created prototype needs no special synching tech, as the device naturally floats up and down with the swell of the wave.

“By always staying in sync with the movement of the waves, we can maximise the energy that’s harvested,” Wang said.

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“Combined with our unique counter-rotating dual turbine wheels, this prototype can double the output power harvested from ocean waves, compared with other experimental point absorber technologies.”

The simple and economical device has been developed by RMIT engineering researchers in collaboration with researchers from Beihang University in China.

Two turbine wheels, which are stacked on top of each other and rotate in opposite directions, are connected to a generator through shafts and a belt-pulley driven transmission system.

The generator is placed inside a buoy above the waterline to keep it out of corrosive seawater and extend the lifespan of the device.

Original Article: New clean energy tech extracts twice the power from ocean waves

More from: Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology | Beihang University