Aquamarine Power’s Oyster wave energy technology consists of a wave-powered pump that pushes high pressurized water to the onshore plant where it drives a hydro-electric turbine which in turn produces electricity.
The Oyster wave power device is a buoyant, hinged flap which is attached to the seabed at depths between 10 and 15 meters.
The devices are designed to be installed at sites around half a kilometer distant from the shore.
Oyster’s hinged flap, which is almost completely underwater, moves backwards and forwards according to the waves.
The movement of the flap drives two hydraulic pistons which push high pressure water onshore via a subsea pipeline to drive a conventional hydro-electric turbine.
The first full scale, 315 kW in capacity, Oyster wave energy device was installed at EMEC test site.
Aquamarine Power has designed Oyster 800 wave energy device, with higher capacity than its predecessor. It is 26 metres across in width, and has the capacity of 800 kW. The device is deployed at EMEC.
The company aims to install multiple Oyster devices to create an array of wave energy generating units, that will be connected to a single onshore plant.
Take a look at the animated video of Oyster wave farm.
Source/Image: Aquamarine Power