EUROPE AND HYDROKINETICS

Waves Start to Make Ripples in Renewable Energy World
Lisa Pham, October 20, 2009 (NY Times)

"Little electricity is being generated from the ocean except at scattered test sites around the world, many supported by European governments…That is partly because the technical difficulties of making such systems work have been great.

"…[T]he next three years are expected to be critical in determining whether such power is cost effective, with about 30 wave energy projects expected to start operations, according to Emerging Energy Research…As governments and power companies pour money into research and technology, [they are studying the trials and tribulations in Pelamis Wave Power’s world-first attempt at a commercial wave power operation]…Pelamis, a Scottish company, deployed its Aguçadoura wave park off the coast of Portugal in 2008. But four months after it was connected to an electricity grid and began generating power it ran into technical difficulties that required its three energy converters to be removed from the sea…[But] Pelamis…[has] a solution…[new financing and]…a new version of its machine…[will] test] at the European Marine Energy Center in Orkney, Scotland…"

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"…[O]perating and maintaining the wave machines [have] turned out to be just as important as their conceptual design…[T]he technology will need time to mature…Annette von Jouanne, one of the leading researchers in the field, of Oregon State University…predicted that the catch-up time for wave energy would be accelerated by available advanced technologies and materials and because of lessons learned from other renewable industries…Other countries developing the technology include Ireland, South Korea and the United States. About 100 companies are working on projects, and many of them are seeking financing, but only a few have ocean-tested their products.

"…Ocean Energy, an Irish start-up…[concluded] a two-and-a-half-year test period in Ireland, where its quarter-scale device consistently produced…Aquamarine Power, a Scottish start-up…installed its Oyster wave energy prototype over the summer at the European Marine Energy Center…Oregon State University…has received $13.5 million in funding, including a five-year $6.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, to establish the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center in Newport, Oregon…a full-scale ocean energy project [will] be deployed in 2011…Carnegie Wave Energy, an Australian company…plans to license its wave power technology to utilities…"

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"Emerging Energy Research estimated that the first generation of small-scale wave energy projects cost four to six times more than current power prices in most markets…Aquamarine Power plans to sell its Oyster device at less than $6.5 million per megawatt installed, within four years. Wind energy costs about $1.5 million per megawatt installed…This makes the industry heavily reliant on government funding. The financial crisis has not helped investment prospects, either…

"Emerging Energy Research [remains] optimistic over all about the potential of wave power…But new technological developments have already turned Aguçadoura’s red, snake-like energy converters from the first commercial wave farm into a historic relic, providing a cautionary tale…"