World’s First Wave Farm

By tim On 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.

tim

During the winter months Tim is Editor In Chief of Unofficial Networks, a blog network for skiers and snowboarders worldwide. Tim lives in Squaw Valley, CA and, in the summer months, spends his time in Argentina where he skis the Andes Mountains.