Wavestar is currently testing the new PTO (power take-off) system for its wave energy device at Aalborg University, Denmark.
The Wavestar wave device draws energy from wave power with floats that rise and fall with the up and down motion of waves.
The motion of the floats is transferred via hydraulics into the rotation of a generator to produce electricity.
Tidal Energy Today spoke to Jeanette Hylleborg , Management Assistant at Wavestar, who said: “We are at the moment testing a new advanced digital hydraulic PTO system at Aalborg University. The plan is to implement this on the existing test plant in Hanstholm later this year together with some other improvements. The plant is right now placed in the harbor ready for upgrading.”
Following the upgrade, the test machine will be placed in the sea at larger water depth, to test the new concrete material, and the addition of at least two new floats to the device, according to Wavestar.
Hylleborg added: “Parallel to this, Wavestar is requesting EU for support through Horizon 2020. We have formed an industrial consortium with the purpose to produce the first full-scale 1 MW Wavestar WEC to be tested commercially.”
The consortium behind the EU application consists among others of STX, IFP EN, DNV and Aalborg, Gent and Cantabria Universities.
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Image: Wavestar