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An Australian wave power developer is to install a prototype of its device in Cornwall after winning a £63,000 European grant.
Perpetuwave Power is to open an office in the South West and partner with the University of Exeter to test its “Wave Harvester” device, which it says is the most efficient wave power generator in the world and can be scaled up to produce megawatt-scale outputs.
The company claims its device can convert up to 40% of the ocean's “contained energy” to electricity.
Prototypes of the device have already been developed and tested at the University of Queensland over the past 10 years. Test results have been independently verified and reviewed by companies including Black and Veatch.
The scale prototype of the Wave Harvester is to be tested in a wave tank and will be installed by November this year. The aim of the tests is to measure average electricity production before a full-sized commercial demonstrator is developed. Glen Dullaway, chief executive of Perpetuwave Power, said: “These authentic results can then be used to reliably forecast electricity generated and revenue.
“Our approach to generating electricity from waves hinges on real data. We began this journey because mathematical modelling showed we could deliver results based on actual electricity produced. Wave energy needs to demonstrate commercial levels of electricity production to demonstrate it can compete directly with wind and solar. That's what sets us apart from the competition.”
Dullaway's previous industry experience includes the development of high efficiency two-stroke engine technology and he said this led Perpetuwave to realise the pulsing energy of a wave is similar to the combustion pulse events in an internal combustion engine.
The Wave Harvester uses a series of lightweight rectangular floats with the longest sides positioned in the direction of the wave. The lightest floats possible have been used to produce a working buoyancy/float and trailing arm weight ratio of 4:1. The trailing lever arm is also placed in the direction of the wave to maximise energy output and to reduce impact loads of breaking waves. This allows floats to be placed behind each other in an array formation.
The energy is transferred to a rotary generator via a direct drive at an efficiency of around 90%. A one way clutch transfers the upward motion of the floats to drive a step up gear box which then drives the common generator to improve drive train and generator utilisation. The floating unit is moored to the seabed using multi-point anchoring technology from the oil and gas industry.
The £63,000 grant has been awarded by the European Regional Development Fund.