Development of a Submerged Pressure Differential Wave Energy Converter

by Marcus Lehmann (CalWave (Cyclotron Road))

Wednesday 28 Sept 2016, 12:00 → 13:00 US/Pacific

50 Auditorium

CalWave is developing a novel Wave Energy Converter (WEC) called the Wave Carpet that is simple, modular, and scalable. The Wave Carpet is capable of operating at high efficiency while being semi-submerged in the water column. This unique capability is survivable in storm conditions and results in no visual pollution or collision danger at the surface.
Current state-of-the-art: The wave energy industry is often compared with the wind energy industry a decade ago. No dominant design for Wave Energy Converters has yet emerged.
Key innovation: The ability of a muddy seafloor to dampen ocean waves is well documented at various locations around the world. In the Gulf of Mexico, the wave–mud interaction is so strong that large storm waves are damped within a couple of wavelengths. The Wave Carpet WEC mimics this phenomenon to efficiently absorb the energy in passing waves.
First market hypothesis: Wave energy is a very dense, predictable, and reliable form of renewable energy created through friction of wind on ocean surfaces. The Wave Carpet could be an ideal complement to renewables, especially for the growing demand at load centers on coastlines all over the world.
Potential for impact: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, wave energy has the potential to power 50 million US homes and PG&E estimates that wave energy could provide 10% of California’s power needs. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates the total theoretical wave power resource to be 29,500 TWh/yr of which 31% is located in North America.