WAVE ENERGY FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR

Submerged Wave Energy Generator On Track For Deployment Near Astoria

Tom Banse, June 1, 2014 (KUOW.org)

“…M3 Wave Energy Systems plans [to deploy the first submerged wave power generator on the West Coast] late this summer in shallow water off the northern Oregon Coast…[The concept] relies on wave pressure passing over acrylic pillows on the sea floor. That pressure compresses air in the pillows, which is then used to spin an electric turbine…[T]he initial open water deployment will be a self-contained, 7' x 30' rectangle on the seafloor…The demonstration is planned to last two to six weeks starting this August or September…[Larger devices] would probably be exported to power off-the-grid outposts or coastal communities with high electricity costs such as Pacific islands or in Alaska…[G]overnment grants and private investors are financing the commercialization…The steady, powerful pounding of the ocean surf along with supportive state governments attracted a plethora of energy developers to the Pacific Northwest over the past decade. But one-by-one, project developers have thrown in the towel as their funding ran low or West Coast utilities proved unwilling to commit to this type of renewable electricity at above-market rates…M3 Wave has managed to survive the shakeout…” click here for more

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