Episode 152 | Fine Flotilla | NoviOcean
My last wave energy episode was five years ago. I thought we would have utility-scale facilities at this point. Swedish-based NoviOcean wants to change that. They have built a durable, energy-dense unit that they believe can be deployed out into the open sea, ready for whatever comes at it.
Jan Skjoldhammer, the company’s founder and CEO, began working on the technology in 2011, and founded NoviOcean in 2016. He describes his wave energy converter (WEC) as “A float, a cylinder, and a turbine.” The hydraulic unit utilizes the rising and falling of waves to create massive amounts of energy. Jan believes a 38m WEC could generate as much as 500 kilowatts of energy. Depending on wave conditions, a larger unit could generate up to 2 megawatts.
According to Jan, the amount of energy from waves is a function of wave height and length. Ideal waves for a 500 kW unit should be 0.75-4m high, extracting full power from the latter. Also, longer but lower waves (i.e. near the equator) can result in tremendous amounts of power. Shorter waves don’t allow larger WECs to rise and fall, resulting in a unit “cutting” the waves, much like large ships.
A big feature of the energy generated is the consistency of energy produced (“power capacity”). Jan says waves in the Pacific and Atlantic are almost always available. The wave height and length are variable. Compared to wind and solar, off-phased wave energy can be extremely reliable.
“Wind is gone for 10 days a month. Sun is gone for half the day,” says Jan. “You have 40% of the hours of the month without wind or sun power. And that time we’re burning fossils the most.”
Jan says wave energy co-located at a wind farm would hold a lot of benefits. Maintenance crews and transmission routes could be shared. Wave energy can be generated when wind is not blowing. Also, wave energy can “shield” wind towers from some of the harshest waves.
Right now, NoviOcean is preparing for a full-scale pilot. Depending on funding, a facility could be in operation in 2-3 years.
“The more money the faster it goes.” Here’s hoping to widespread waves!
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