Irish company claims wave power success

[FabianPattberg]

Hello members,

This is an article I found yesterday on wave turbines and the first successes:
Irish company claims wave power success

DUBLIN (AFP) — A prototype wave energy converter has begun harnessing electricity from Atlantic waves off the west coast of Ireland, the Wavebob company said on Tuesday.
A "Wavebob" floating buoy device that automatically adjusts to the size of the waves to maximise the amount of power it produces is undergoing trials off Spiddal, County Galway.
"This is a giant leap forward for renewable energy production in Ireland," said Wavebob chief executive Andrew Parish.
"As an island in the middle of the energetic Atlantic Ocean, Ireland can be to wave-energy what Saudi Arabia is to oil.
"The more we exploit this unlimited natural resource, the better it will be, not just for the global environment, but also for the Irish consumer's pocket," he said.
The quarter-scale prototype device involved in the trials is not connected to the national grid.
At full scale, each Wavebob device will be capable of producing in excess of a megawatt -- enough electricity for 1,000 homes.
Part of the strategy of Ireland's Energy Minister, Eamon Ryan, a member of the Green Party, is to have 500 megawatts of ocean energy installed by 2020.
Wavebob has invested more than 4.0 million euros (5.7 million dollars) in research and development over the past six years.
The company's partners include Chevron, Georgia Tech Research Institute, University College Cork and National University of Ireland, Maynooth.

Source: AFP: Irish company claims wave power success

[Metyu]

Thanks - interesting stuff.

I wonder what the RoI is? As I understand wave power, the major problem is the sheer power of the sea; millions can be spent on RnD, only for the product to be destroyed within a few minutes (ok, maybe days or weeks!).

And as this device is a "floater" [ahem], how will it affect seagulls, fishermen, swimmers and the like?

It will be interesting to see how this project progresses.

PS I note from one of the links, "Eamon Ryan ... has said he wants 500 megawatts of ocean energy installed by 2020." Wacko or visionary?

[Corey]

Wouldn't happen to have a source link to the tech would you? So we can see what this wave generator looks like and see the spec and such?

[FabianPattberg]

Hi Corey.

Dont know whether you mean this but this is the Irish Wave Turbine website link:

Wavebob - Home