Good Energy’s information on Wave Power
Wave power – energy from the ocean
Wave power is the process of capturing the energy that is propelling waves hundreds of miles across the sea, and turning it into electricity. Waves carry a large amount of potential energy and it the Carbon Trust estimates that wave energy could provide as much as 15 – 20% of the UK’s energy demand. According to DECC wave power could provide up to 90 million gigawatts of clean energy globally.
Good Energy is proud to be supporting wave power by purchasing electricity from a trial wave energy project in Scotland. Switching your electricity supply to Good Energy helps us support these pioneering renewable energy projects.
How does wave energy work?
Although there is clearly plenty of wave energy available to be captured, the technology to do so is still in the early stages. Recently there have been some exciting developments and working models that are turning out well. The different types of generator turning wave power into electricity currently being tested and developed are designed for different ocean depths and types of wave. They either use wave energy to fill chambers and compress air that pushes a turbine and generates power, or to lift and pull at hinges that force hydraulic fluid through pumps, creating electricity.
To see a comprehensive list of some of the innovative and creative wave technologies being tested now, click here.
Opportunities for wave power in the UK
As the UK has such a strong wind resource, we also have some of the world’s highest wave power levels. Our west coast has some of the strongest wave power in the Northern Hemisphere. While there are currently only two wave power stations in the UK, plenty more projects are being built. In 2010 there should be exponential growth in wave energy as companies perceive its importance as a reliable source of clean electricity. Projects will be helped along by The Carbon Trust’s plans to invest £1 million over the next year to help reduce the cost of generating marine power by 20 per cent.
The west coasts of Britain and Ireland are particularly prime spots for exploiting the power of the sea, with research from the University of Liverpool suggesting that the Irish Sea could potentially meet up to 5% of the UK’s electricity requirements.
Wave power developments
Something that should push wave power development forward is the Wave Hub, off the Cornish coast to build an underwater ‘socket’, connected to the national grid. The Wave Hub will allow wave energy prototypes from around the world to be tested in realistic conditions and show their value and efficiency. This is a one- off project and will help us to pioneer wave power. See www.wavehub.co.uk
The two wave energy generators currently functioning in the UK are trial projects creating around 1.25 MW of energy between them – enough energy for around 415 homes. Good Energy is proud to be supporting wave power by purchasing electricity from one of these projects in Scotland.
Scotland is in fact a world leader in wave energy with companies like Wavegen and Pelamis Wave Power leading the charge. The first commercial wave farm in the world has been built by Pelamis Wave Power off the coast off Portugal. Its unique design is a series of long tubes connected by hydraulic arms. The metal tubes react to the waves that pass them to pump high pressure fluid into hydraulic motors, which then power generators to create electricity. This design is proving to be the leader of wave power concepts at the moment.
Challenges for wave power
The harsh conditions of the seas are always going to provide challenges to wave energy engineers. Rough weather and salty water are not ideal for heavy machinery with electrical parts! But a good engineer loves a good challenge, and the working designs like the Pelamis demonstrate that these challenges are far from insurmountable.
Help grow wave power by switching to Good Energy
Switching your home or business from your standard electricity supplier to Good Energy means that all the electricity you use will be supporting independent renewables around the UK, including the wave power schemes we buy from. We are the UK’s only 100% renewable electricity supplier and fight for renewable energy every day.
Switching to Good Energy is the first step in supporting wave power power.
