Eco Wave Power’s 1 MW wave power plant in Porto will generate electricity by harnessing the motion of ocean waves combined with hydraulic pistons.
For over a decade, Eco Wave Power has been testing its wave energy system, utilizing the up-and-down movement of coastal waters to drive hydraulic pistons that power generators. Now, the company is gearing up to construct its first megawatt-scale wave power plant, as reported by New Atlas on August 7th.
While the system has undergone several modifications over the years, its fundamental operating principle remains unchanged. Floats attached to breakwaters or other coastal infrastructure rise and fall with the waves, transporting fluid to onshore accumulators via the movement of hydraulic pistons. The compressed fluid is then released to run generators and produce electricity.
The setup can operate continuously, but if the sea becomes too rough, the floats can be lifted out of the water until the storm passes. Installation and maintenance are relatively straightforward, and grid connection can be achieved without the need for undersea cables.
Eco Wave Power’s first grid-connected facility was established in Gibraltar in 2016, operating for six years before parts were recovered, refurbished (or recycled), and sent to the Port of Los Angeles in the U.S. for a pilot project. Another system installed at the Port of Jaffa in Israel connected to the grid last year. The company has also signed multiple agreements worldwide in recent years, the largest being a 77 MW power plant in Turkey.
However, the company’s first megawatt-scale power production project will be located in Porto, northern Portugal, following the granting of a construction permit in March this year. The plant will include a wave energy museum and education center in the space beneath the breakwater. This area will also house the majority of Eco Wave Power’s equipment. Construction is expected to begin within the next two years, followed by scaling up to four sites with a maximum capacity of 20 megawatts.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the annual wave energy potential off the nation’s coasts is estimated at 2.64 trillion kilowatt-hours, equivalent to about 64% of the country’s electricity production in 2019. Meanwhile, Ocean Energy Europe states that 100 GW of wave power capacity could be installed in Europe by 2050, meeting 10% of the continent’s electricity demand. These wave power projects will significantly contribute to reducing global carbon emissions.
