The sun and the waves will unite: the new generator will make “green” electricity cheaper

According to analysts, capital expenditures for solar power plants can be reduced by 50% when combined with wave installations.

Australian company WaveX has announced the development of a D-spar wave energy generator that can be combined with solar power to reduce costs and provide dispatching The portal pv magazine Australia writes about it.

According to WaveX founder Simon Renwick, a recent report by the Blue Economy Research Center (CRC), Ocean Wave Energy in Australia, shows that the capital costs of a solar farm can be reduced by 50% if wave energy is integrated into it. He noted that the combination of solar and wave systems can significantly affect the cost of renewable energy, since waves are present even in the absence of sunlight. The same goes for wind energy.

“It's an absolute watershed moment that I think has been left behind when it comes to why wave energy is worth messing with,” — said Simon Renwick.

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WaveX is reportedly planning to deploy a large-scale prototype of its 30kW D-spar wave generator, equivalent to six solar installations. The D-Spar is a cylindrical, vertical floating tubular structure resembling spar buoys that generate electricity from kinetic energy. D-Spar has no underwater moving parts, so it hardly disturbs the marine ecosystem, unlike offshore wind turbines.

The system will use proven mooring devices, power cables and production facilities developed by the oil and gas industry, making its economically beneficial. Simon Renwick came up with this solution while working as a civil engineer on a floating oil platform.

The final version of the generator will be four times larger than the prototype and generate 100 times more energy. One such device is expected to be able to produce about 3 MW, enough to power about 500 homes, and several devices together could power entire cities.

“We can fill the gaps left by the variability of the wind and the sun. Combining all three renewable energy sources results in a much higher overall level of renewable electricity. It also helps navigate seasonal fluctuations, as wave energy peaks in the winter when wind and solar resources are scarce,” — said Simon Renwick.