Many ocean power projects currently in process

Oceanlinx filed with FERC for a 15 MW wave farm off Florence, Oregon and is making progress with their Rhode Island wave energy project as well. This following the successful project in Australia at Port Kembla, and the International Academy of Science's accolade naming Oceanlinx's wave energy device as one of the ten most outstanding technologies in the world for 2006.

Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) is teaming up with the Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative (PGNC Power) to develop the 2 MW Reedsport OPT Wave Park in Douglas County, Oregon. The plan is to install OPT’s Powerbuoy technology 2.5 miles offshore in about 50 meters of water. Although the initial installation will only be 2 MW, OPT has been granted a preliminary permit form FERC for a connection of up to 50 MW.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) applied for two preliminary permits with FERC for rights to develop wave energy sites off the coast of Mendocino and Humbolt Counties, California. Named “WaveConnect”, the proposed developments would proved PG&E’s customers with a new source of clean, renewable power. PG&E intends on using the most effective technologies for the projects and if fully developed could each provide up to 40 MW of electricity.

OpenHydro Group Ltd., an Irish energy technology company, has signed an agreement with Alderney Renewable Energy Ltd. for the supply of tidal turbines. The agreement follows the recent installation of OpenHydro’s Open-Center Turbine at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), in Orkney, Scotland. The company has also been awarded EUR1.8M in grant support under the Scottish Executive’s Wave and Tidal Energy Scheme for the deployment of a second turbine at EMEC.

A new wave-powered pump system designed to turn seawater into fresh water when combined with desalination systems or produce electricity when combined with hydroelectric systems has been successfully tested off Texas in the gulf of Mexico. The SEADOG ocean-wave pump, developed by Minnesota-based Independent Natural resources Inc. (INRI), can transfer between 15,000 to 40,000 gallons of seawater per day. With swells of at least 5 feet, a 1 square mile pump field could generate approximately 242 MW.

E.ON and Lunar Energy have announced they will develop a tidal stream project of up to 8 MW off the west coast of the UK. If built, it would be the largest facility of its kind in the world. E.ON is one of the largest renewable power generators in the UK. Lunar Energy has been working with Rotech Engineering Ltd. to develop the patented Rotech Tidal Turbine. The group anticipates the startup of the plant to be in 2010.

Grants worth more than $17M have been awarded for marine energy projects in Scottish waters, most in Orkney. Nine projects will share the money. Included are: CRE Energy Limited ($5.7 million) to use four of Ocean Power Delivery’s Pelamis devices for an output of 3 MW. AWS Energy ($2.7M) to construct and install a 500 kW Archimedes Wave Swing wave energy converter. ScotRenewables ($2,24M) for a floating tidal stream energy converter. OpenHydro ($1.5M) for a 250 kW Open-Center Turbine to be installed at EMEC. Ocean Power Technology ($.788M) for a PowerBuoy. Others funded in the program are Aquamarine, CleanTechCom, Wavegen and Tidal Generation.

Irish company Cleanpower Technology has secured support for its Wavebob device, designed to be a lightweight and economical “point” energy converter. the full scale buoy will have an output of around 1 MW. Currently, the device is about to begin 1:20 scales testing in Spiddal County Galway.

In San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the city would explore the possibility of generating power from the tidal flow under the Golden Gate Bridge. In late September, San Francisco launched a $150,000 feasibility study to examine the tidal energy project, which could generate up to 35 MW.

NELHA (Natural Energy Laboratory Hawaii Authority) and Ocean Engineering and Energy Systems (OEES) announced their intent to build a 1 MW OTEC demonstration plant on the Big Island.

The U.S. Army has issued a request for information for a 13 MW OTEC plant for the Kwajalein Atoll.

Marine Current Turbines is planning a 10 MW tidal energy farm off Anglesey, UK, to be operational by 2009.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is now accepting grant proposals for the Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Program, part of the 2006 Florida Energy Act. The $15 million grants program is designed to advance the already growing establishment of renewable energy technologies including ocean energy.

A new Oscillating Water Column wave energy plant is nearing completion, based on Wavegen’s Limpet plant.

Bourne Energy announced plans to build full-scale prototypes of their OceanStar and TidalStar wave and tidal systems for demonstration over the next 24 months.

Verdant Power is installing two underwater turbines in New York’s East River, between Manhattan and Queens, with plans for 300 turbines in the river by 2008. The Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) project, is the first grid-connected kinetic hydropower system.

SyncWave Energy announced the start of a 3-year, $15 million demonstration project off the West Coast of British Columbia.

Denmark announced its intent to increase the use of wind power, already providing 20% of danish electricity, by 50%-mostly offshore.

Crest Energy has filed an application to build a $400 million, 200 MW tidal power plant in the mouth of Kaipara Harbour in New Zealand. Once completed in 2011, it will generate about 4% of New Zealand’s annual energy supply, of which 60% is already produced from renewable energy sources.

Germany’s Plambeck Neue Energien AG has received approval to build the “Gode Wind” offshore wind farm, consisting of 80- 5MW wind turbines initially with expansion to 220. Project start is 2008/2009.

A UK feasibility study has begun to build a 5-mile fixed transport link, consisting of a bridge and causeway. A causeway fitted wind turbines would be built across the Sound of Harris, and a bridge across the narrow Skaari channel containing tidal turbines would recoup the cost of the project and eliminate the current Ferry link.

The Atlantic Tidal Energy Consortium has announced its intention to build an installed capacity of about 600 MW of tidal power in the Bay of Fundy within the next 10 years.

TecDragon SA is developing a 50 MW wave energy project off Portugal to be deployed by 2009-2010.

Germany expects offshore wind farms to reach 1,500MW by the end of 2001.
Seapower Pacific has completed a yearlong trial off Fremantle, Australia, producing electricity from the 10m prototype wave machine called CETO. Future plans are to have 125 CETO units which would be capable of producing 18 MW of electricity or 45 billion liters of fresh water.
An experimental floating 1.5MW tidal plant has been launched at Severodvinsk, Russia which will be installed near the Kislogubskaya Tidal Power Plant in the Barents Sea.
The state government of Maharashtra has teamed with Apar Urja Pvt Ltd to produce a 15-25 kW pilot tidal plant which if successful will increased to 250 kW.
Florida Atlantic University has received $5 million to establish The Florida Center of Excellence in Ocean Energy. The Center will focus on Florida’s energy crisis by looking at South Florida’s ocean currents, specifically the Gulf Stream.
A 300-kW turbine prototype, developed by Marine Current Turbines Ltd., was installed over a year ago in Britain's Bristol Channel to take advantage of the 5-knot tidal flow.

Clean Energy Generated from Local Tidal Current Turbines
PROJECT OVERVIEW/CONCEPTS
Phase 1: Feasibility Study
Tidal currents between and around the chain of reef islands that make up the Florida Keys offer a promising opportunity that is worthwhile to test as a clean source of energy. The first proposed tidal turbine farm is planned for Bahia Honda Channel, just south of the Seven Mile Bridge in Marathon. The feasibility study will be a 60 day test of the tidal turbine for renewable generated output at this location.

The completed tidal turbine farm will include a state-of-the-art substation, subsurface bedrock directional drilling for a sub sea cable route, and multiple series of turbines mounted to the floor of the Channel, positioned one half mile south of the old abandoned railroad bridge built by Henry Flagler in 1912, where the flow is strongest at thirty feet deep. Engineering for these components of the full-scale project are in progress. The fuel for this underwater “power plant” is clean and free. The moon will do the work. CONCEPT ILLUSTRATION

One of the turbine suppliers being considered is fabricating a customized prototype turbine for temporary installation. This unit will be monitored for energy output and environmental impact throughout the tidal current velocities. This will be a test trial of the equipment for functional efficiency and durability at our proposed test site.

The joint Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers permit application that is in process is classified de minimus or low impact. Florida Keys Hydro Power's mission reflects that of Florida's changing energy policies established by the Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate Change, developed to create strategies to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A Certification Application is being prepared for the Florida Energy Office in Tallahassee if an order is needed by the Governor and Cabinet to meet the requirements of the Power Plant Siting Act. Emission-free, non-thermal power plants are new to the Energy Office and may not need that type of certification. However, the DEP permit application for the underwater power plant project is very detailed and time-consuming with each agency involved. Public meetings will precede determinations.

On October 6, 2007, the former Governor of Florida responsible for founding the Department of Environmental Protection--which influenced the Federal Government to establish the Environmental Protection Agency--officially joined the Keys Hydro Power team to bring renewable, emission-free electric power to the Florida Keys. Read Blog

The Monroe Country Board of Commissioners and the Key West Utility Board unanimously voted for resolutions and support of the project.

"The Utility Board and Keys Energy have encouraged the Florida Municipal Power Agency to monitor the feasibility study, as it could result in a generating facility that uses little or no fuel and is an environmentally-friendly, alternative source of energy that does not produce greenhouse gas emissions. The Utility Board (of the City of Key West) is supportive of the feasibility study of hydropower in the Florida Keys, and we would urge all permitting agencies to give their timely consideration and appropriate support when considering applications on behalf of the feasibility study.” --Robert R. Padron, Utility Board Chairman
http://www.keyshydropower.com/overview.html
Contact Douglas Bedgood for Additional Information
Florida Keys Hydro Power Research Corporation. 733 Love Lane, Key West, FL 33040.

OPTT (OCEAN POWER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.)
http://www.oceanpowertechnologies.com/index.htm


Pelamis Wave Power
Government go-ahead for Wave Hub project 17 September 2007
June 2007 - OPD named Renewable Energy Company of the Year by REA
http://www.oceanpd.com/default.html


Finavera Renewables AquaBuOY http://peswiki.com/energy/Directory:Ocean_Wave_Energy#Aqua_Buoy


Blue Energy International Davis Hydro Turbine
September 26, 2006 - Blue Energy Completes Prototype Research in Collaboration with UBC
http://www.bluenergy.com/index.html
Blue Energy International is currently raising capital through private placement to complete its latest phase of rotor optimization with the University of British Columbia



Wavegen Limpet
Wavegen now have ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & OHSAS 18001 Certification.
First commercial breakwater wave energy plant world-wide to be built in Spanish Mutriku (2/7/07)
http://www.wavegen.co.uk/

S.D.E. Energy Ltd
Israel manufacturer and marketer of Sea Wave Power Plants - utilizing sea wave energy to produce electricity economically. Eight energy modules have been built and tested. A full-scale oceanfront model was operated in Israel and produced 40 kW/h for 8 months. Plans for cnstructing and Operating a 10 MW Station in Ashdod, Israel. – The power plant is expected to be built within 36 months. It has been assumed that the power plant will be operated during 75% of the year with an output of 90%.. s agreed with the national electric company, the sale price of 1 kW/h will be 5.25¢. http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:S.D.E._Energy_Ltd.

Ocean Navitas Ltd, Aegir Dynamo™ 93% conversion efficiency
2MW pilot project in process at the New and Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, Northumberland. http://oceannavitas.com/projects.html

CETO Wave Energy http://www.ceto.com.au/ceto-technology/what-is-ceto.php
By delivering high pressure seawater ashore, the technology allows either zero-emission electricity to be produced (similar to hydroelectricity) or zero-emission freshwater (utilising standard reverse osmosis desalination technology).
Results of initial in-sea trials of its CETO II wave energy technology show near perfect correlation with results predicted by CETO computational models, confirming its design and clearing the way for deployment of the first commercial CETO II units within weeks.

Sea Dog Pump
The SEADOGTM pump captures ocean-wave energy to pump large volumes of seawater, consuming no fuel or electricity and creates no polluting by-products in the process. There are many applications for the SEADOGTM pump from power generation to aquafarming. INRITM is currently developing seawater desalination systems and hydroelectric energy generation. Prototype performance testing has been performed in INRI’sTM internal development lab, in the Texas A&M Offshore Technology Research Center’s wave tank, and most recently, in actual ocean trials conducted off the coast of Freeport, TX. The test results have confirmed that SEADOGTM pump technology can be a viable means of harvesting renewable power from ocean waves. http://www.inri.us/pages/2/index.htm

Neo-AeroDynamic wind or tidal power
The company is presently producing 10 beta units to disperse around various nations. It hopes to have the first 1000 residential units installed by the end of 2007.
http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Neo-AeroDynamic

Other systems
http://peswiki.com/energy/Directory:Ocean_Wave_Energy