Why wave energy?

Waves are nearly 1000 times denser than wind. This means that we can produce a  relatively large amount of energy from a Wavebob that is small in size. The amount of area required (foot print) for a wave energy farm is much less than required for wind turbines.

Wave energy is also far more predictable than other alternative energy sources. Solar and wind power vary with the weather, while waves are much more predictable and consistent. This is because waves are created by the movement of wind across the ocean surface and means that the oceans are essentially a form of stored wind energy.

Why are we not all using wave energy now?

Developing reliable, robust wave energy converters is a difficult business. It is also expensive. Over the years there have been hundreds of different ideas and inventions to try to harness the power of the sea. Recent technology advances allows computer simulation and modelling to pay a much bigger role in the technology development and therefore the rate of development is increasing. Furthermore, a greater awareness of the need for reliable, clean sources of energy means that investors are now more inclined to support this emerging sector. It will probably be 3-5 yrs yet before we see commercial wave energy devices being deployed in numbers.

How much energy can Wavebob produce?

Wavebob is designed to have an installed capacity of 1 megawatt (1000 kW) and will produce, on average over the course of a year, more than 500kW.

Can Wavebob WEC’s be seen from the shore?

The Wavebob is designed to operate best in deep water. This is due to the fact that in shallow water (20 meters)  , a wave might have only one third of the energy it had in deep water (100m). This typically means that the devices will be installed more than 5 kilometres offshore. As most of the device is below the waterline, the visible part looks like a navigational buoy and will barely appear on the horizon.

Where are the best waves?

Ask any surfer!

Generally the western coastlines of landmasses are the best. So western USA – California, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii;  Chile; Western Australia; South Africa; Western Europe – Ireland, Scotland and Portugal are all attractive wave energy resources.

How much energy is there?

A lot! According to the Electric Power Research Institute in the US, ten years from now, the U.S. could produce 10 gigawatts of wave power.  That’s enough for around 4.3 million homes! (assuming 3 kilowatts a home). That’s about 6 percent of U.S. electrical demand. In Europe it is estimated that countries on the Atlantic coast could practically power 10% of their electrical requirements with wave energy