Gigantic Wave Energy Generator Destined for Scottish Coast

About time too, why has it taken so long to sort it out, this will be much better than the useless wind turbines!

Great news indeed!! Useless wind turbines? How is 197 GW useless?

197 GW may not be useless, but, since you can never be sure of when the wind will blow, you still need 197 GW of standby, conventional power on hand...Which means, the VALUE of your 197 GW of capacity is suspicious...

How is the VALUE of 400+ TWh produced suspicious when it can be equated to a monetary amount?

Because the source of the energy is unreliable, any estimation of the monetary value that can be realistically ascribed to the system is unreliable.

Then you must also conclude that hydroelectric power in unreliable because the actual output depends on reservoir head which is effected by the vagaries of precipitation.

Although I have significant ecological objections to conventional hydroelectric power, reliability is not one of the issues. While you are correct that output is dependent on the vagaries of precipitation, one generally has sufficient warning that the water level is decreasing to a critical level, and it is time to turn on the alternative power sources. One need not maintain one's alternatives on standby (i.e., consume fuels without producing electricity) until that critical level is reached.

Here in Panama, where about 60% of our power comes from hydroelectric and we enjoy 120 inches of rain per year or more (depending on what part of Panama you are in), we still encounter times when the hydroelectric supply cannot meet demand, and we must turn on the thermo-electric generators.

Were we using wind as primary power, the thermo-electric generators would be running constantly.

Wave energy is a bit more predictable than conventional approaches to wind (note that ocean waves result from a transfer of wind energy to the ocean surface- think of this as a big, big storage system). In many parts of the world (including here in Panama), wave characteristics can be predicted several days in advance, due to the fact that the waves travel great distances from their point of origin. Therefore, one has the opportunity to plan for the variability.

The wind does not offer that sort of reliability. In those areas attempt to generate more than about 20% of total system demand from wind, the rapid switching requirements between sources has rendered the entire grid unreliable (it has been reported that in Spain they have, at least over short periods, exceeded the 20% limit, but so far, this has not been achieved in other areas).

Here is a link that explres the limitation of wind energy in more detail.

We have a huge wind farm out at sea where I am living, but the wind doesn't blow enough to produce more than about 16% of the potencial energy output of the wind farm, so as I said, bloody useless!!!

ps, And a vast waste of money!

Yep - the nearest wind-farms to me are insane. Down for maintenance, no wind blowing, the list is endless. Wind is precisely that. The only bit missing is 'hot'.

The majority of these insane schemes have never been fully costed, and have no way of serving general energy demand. Nuclear works, and the only thing we have to be afraid of is the same people who panic over food cooked in a microwave oven.

Wave/wind power is a noble goal, and has it's place. It simply isn't in solving the overall picture.

We should focus on the one way we have of providing energy - nuclear. All the rest is a hippy pipe-dream

Why is it pumping nice corrosive sea water ? "a prototype has clocked in over 6,000 hours".

The thing is destined for Orkney.....

Whilst selling the thing, Aquamarine stated. "A farm of just 20 Oyster 800 devices would generate sufficient power for up to 15,000 homes".

Orkney Population :

The 2001 census identified 19,245 souls living in the islands. These folk live in a stock of 9500 houses with a 90% occupancy

OK, allowing for transmission losses and other uses, 20 Oysters might do it. After capital and running cost, I wouldn't bet much money on Orkney becoming a free-energy place anytime soon.

It's a fine concept, but this will never translate into solving the energy crisis.

I havn't even read the article yet, but in reply to some posts about wind or wave being worthless here are my 2 cents.

It is true that wind, wave and even hydroelectric are sometimes inconsistent in their output. Sure, you have to have a backup of fuel burning (or nuclear) generating facilities, but when you have wave, wind or hydroelectric you are not consuming fuel...there is your big benefit; you get to save fuel for when it is more expensive and installing a billion dollar wind farm is cheaper than fuel will cost as it becomes more scarce.

Edit: Ok, after reading the article I have a question. Why would they pump seawater which as mentioned above can be harmful to your equipment. My father has worked on desalination equipment and told me horror stories on how marine life is very persistent and will grow anywhere it can.

Wouldn't it be better to let the wave generator draw water from water (or other hydrolic fluids) from a tank onshore in a circuit instead of dealing with marine organisms? If you used an antifreeze solution you wouldn't have to worry about ice in the winter.

Drew K

"Seven of these systems would easily be enough to power 15,000 homes, which is an appreciable number, especially considering that (aside from the equipment itself) the energy is zero carbon and completely free."

Do they really think we are nieve enough to believe it is "zero carbon"? It had to be manufactured somewhere using some kind of energy and some sort of manufactured substance.

"A rigid frame is bolted to the seafloor, while a big float on hinges pivots back and forth in the waves, pumping compressed sea water to a hydroelectric power station on shore as it does so."

I wonder how long it will take for the barnicle and coral to weigh it down enough that the big float doesn't float anymore. Or do they have divers cleaning it all of the time? I didn't see a mention of the environmental impact analysis based on that unit that has operated for 6,000 hours.

Also, I didn't see a cost per kWh. Here in Indiana, our wind farm electricity is sold in New York because it can't compete with the cheap power from coal.

Way to many questions left unanswered by this article.