Ocean Power Delivery Ltd. (Edinburgh, Scotland) has recently completed a revolutionary novel offshore wave energy converter called Pelamis. Building on technology developed for the offshore industry, the Pelamis provides similar output to a modern wind turbine. The first full-scale pre-production prototype is currently being built and will be tested at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney later this year.
The photos below shows a prototype of the Pelamis wave generator going out on trials. The machine is the world’s first commercial-scale floating wave energy converter and Carmanah is proud to announce that its Model 601 solar-powered LED marine lights were chosen for installation on this important new technology.
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HOW THE PELAMIS WORKS
The Pelamis is a semi-submerged, articulated structure composed of cylindrical sections linked by hinged joints. The wave-induced motion of these joints is resisted by hydraulic rams, which pump high-pressure oil through hydraulic motors via smoothing accumulators. The hydraulic motors drive electrical generators to produce electricity. Power from all the joints is fed down a single umbilical cable to a junction on the sea bed. Several devices can be connected together and linked to shore through a single seabed cable.
It is anticipated that future “wave farm” projects would consist of an arrangement of interlinked multi-machines connected to shore by a single subsea cable. A typical 30MW installation would occupy a square kilometre of ocean and provide sufficient electricity for 20,000 homes. Twenty of these farms could power a city such as Edinburgh.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- News release issued by Ocean Power Delivery Ltd. (Feb 23, 2004)
- Video footage of 7th Scale prototype on ocean trials
- Interactive model showing how the Pelamis technology works
This story was supplied by Jeff Gibson, Northern Area Manager, Hydrosphere UK Ltd. Hydrosphere is Carmanah’s exclusive master marine lighting distributor for the United Kingdom and Ireland. For lighting inquiries, contact:
Hydrosphere UK Ltd.
Units C & D, West End Centre
Colthouse Lane, Upper Froyle
Hampshire, GU34 4JR
Tel: 07919 183610, Fax: 01420 520373
E-mail: admin@hydrosphere.co.uk
Source for further information:
Official web site of Ocean power Delivery Limited.