Message #734 From:
TheMachine Date: May 24, 2009 08:30:22 PM
Wave Power! Firm gets grant for trials of wave power in New Zealand
A wave-energy device trialled in Wellington Harbour has moved closer to
full production after the company behind its design received a $760,000
government grant.
The grant could help spark
the introduction of offshore "wave farms" that would have clusters of
tidal devices grouped together, invisible from shore.
Energy
and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee announced this week that
Wellington-based Power Projects Ltd would get the money from a fund for
marine energy research.
A quarter-sized scale model,
looking like two floating goalposts, was trialled in Evans Bay last
year after four years of research which cost $2.5 million.
The
five-metre-tall prototype was tied to the seabed by a "slack anchor" so
it could move with the waves. Its hull sits deep in the water, and
electricity is created by the action of a smaller float that pivots
near the surface.
While not hooked up to the national grid, the device produced two kilowatts enough to power two homes.
Power
Projects director John Huckerby said the grant would be used to deploy
a 20kW device enough to power 20 homes, and eventually a wave energy
convertor capable of 100kW output.
"A smaller experimental
device has already survived deployments extending up to 35 days and
weathered significant storm conditions," Dr Huckerby said.
"The
grant will enable us to make longer-term deployments, which are
necessary to demonstrate survivability and continuity of operation."
With its long coastline, high winds and stormy seas, New Zealand is seen as a good candidate for tidal and wave energy.
If
the trials are successful, Dr Huckerby said wave-energy devices could
be stationed along the west coast of New Zealand as a power-supply
source.
The marine energy industry has 26 projects on the
drawing board, 20 of which involve development or deployment of
wave-energy devices in open sea around Canterbury, Southland and the
southwestern coast.
Neptune Power of Christchurch is investigating building underwater turbines in Cook Strait to harness tidal power.
