Writer: Doris Hui

Wave energy (or wave power) is the transport and capture of energy by ocean surface waves. The energy captured is then used for all different kinds of useful work, including electricity generation, water desalination, and pumping of water. Wave energy is also a type of renewable energy and is the largest estimated global resource form of ocean energy.

The biggest disadvantages of wave energy is that its efficiency is not high enough, its durability is short (affected by the waves) and its accessibility is low (not convenient to repair) because the engine is usually located far from the shore. Moreover, large machines have to be put at the bottom of the sea to gather energy from the waves. They would change the habitat of marine lives and near-shore animals (like crabs and starfish) and create noise pollution.

To overcome those shortcomings mentioned previously, Wave Swell Energy, an energy company in Melbourne, has developed a new wave energy generator. This generator, located near King Island in Tasmanian, looks like a ship, but could be anchored to the seabed in fixed locations. Its design was inspired by nature’s blowhole. Every time when the waves wash against the shore, it would push the air out of the pipe, which would force the seawater to splash upward. When the waves subsides, air would be drawn-in by the turbine engine and the air movement would spin the turbine to produce electricity. Wave Swell Energy’s co-founder Tom Denniss said that different from traditional generator which allow the waves to go underneath and above the engine, the waves for this generators could only go in one direction, therefore its power are fully utilized. Since its located near the shore, the machine won’t wear and tear easily due to large waves, and its easier for maintenance workers to access. Moreover, the turbine engine is located above sea-level and wouldn’t touch the water, so it won’t hurt the fish even when they are washed in by ocean currents.

This project is a pilot programme. Wave Swell plans to put it on-grid. Its system capacity is estimated to reach 200 kilowatt. If the trial run smoothly, they may further launch an upgraded version with 1,000 kilowatt capacity. They hope to produce it massively, or even combine it with the design of breakwater, hoping to produce electricity as well as to release the impact of the waves.

King Island is home to about 1,700 people and draws about two-thirds of its annual electricity from renewables but can be powered up to 100% by green energy. The boat-like structure turbine can generate up to 200kW of power but there are plans for larger 1,000kW models.

The $8m project is backed by grants from the Commonwealth’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency as well as private investors.

References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGm0k4mnpng
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfHx6qy9S-Y
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/feb/02/remote-tasmanian-island-to-be-powered-by-blowhole-energy-that-harnesses-waveshttps://www.shs.edu.tw/works/essay/2016/03/2016032916190200.pdf
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/feb/02/remote-tasmanian-island-to-be-powered-by-blowhole-energy-that-harnesses-waveshttps://www.conserve-energy-future.com/advantages_disadvantages_waveenergy.php

Image Source:
https://www.waveswell.com

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