The Challenge:
With over 70 percent of Earth's surface covered by water, ocean waves represent a major untapped large-scale source of renewable energy. If fully harnessed, the energy contained within waves has the potential to produce enough electricity annually to meet global energy needs.
Despite its enormous potential as a source for renewable energy, the ocean is unlikely to contribute meaningfully to electricity supplies without dramatic, innovation-driven improvements in average energy production, installed capital costs, and reliability that deliver cost-competitive power to the grid.
The Solution:
Oscilla Power's Triton wave energy converter aims to deliver capture technology that is cost-competitive, reliable and durable. It will have a rated power of 1 megawatt, be suitable for installation at sites around the world, and be capable of being arrayed together to form utility-scale power plants.
Triton’s architecture provides the ability to capture energy from the ocean in all six degrees of freedom (heave, pitch, surge, roll, and yaw), enabling power to be produced across a range of wave conditions. The system has the ability to be installed quickly by readily available marine vessels, removing the need for specialized vessels or heavy lift equipment. The technology also prioritizes high survivability and reliability, engineered to withstand the most extreme storm conditions, employing a validated approach to automatically submerge just below the surface when experiencing extreme waves.
Unlike wind or solar power, wave energy is easier to predict as wave propagation can be modeled and accurately forecasted days in advance. Complementing the consistency of wave energy with the peaks and valleys of wind and solar leads to a more predictable and steady renewable energy mix, reducing variability and lowering costs.
Support This Member:
Learn more about Oscilla Power and its Triton technology.