NewNergy

Japanese adventurer sets out across the Pacific in the world's first wave-powered boat.

The vessel for Kenichi Horie's latest adventure has two wings in front which convert the energy from waves into a movement similar to a dolphin's kicks, making it the world's first boat to be powered by the vertical motion of waves. The trip is meant in part to promote the commercial viability of the invention built by a team at Japan's Tokai University.

See video here

Labels: wave

Specialised wave energy technology company Ocean Energy recently completed the first successful sea trials for a wave energy converter. The device known as the OE Buoy has been undergoing extensive sea trials for the past eight months at the Marine Institute/SEI Wave Energy Test Site in Galway Bay. The test results, validated by the Hydraulic Marine Research Centre (HMRC) at University College Cork (UCC), represent a major breakthrough for Irish technologists in the search for viable alternative energy sources.

The device has been subjected to a wide range of wave conditions over the last eight months including a severe storm on New Year’s Eve when a wave height of 8.2 metres was experienced. The mooring system had no difficulty coping with these conditions and the whole system did not suffer any ill effects from the extreme waves.

Labels: ocean, wave

Ocean Power Technologies - Taking a Closer Look

This blog post @ AEI takes a look at Ocean Power Technologies. The company, for its projects in Hawaii, New Jersey and Spain, have highly deployed power technology. One PowerBuoy produces 40kw and only in Hawaii and Spain will these wave "farms" will reach over 1 megawatt - this for a technology that is supposedly scaleable to hundreds of megawatts...

However, the post goes on to say there are good things about the PowerBuoy technology - it is modular, and add to it the fact that wave power is more predicatable than other intermittant renewable technologies based on wind or solar. In terms of costs, wave energy could cost more than wind energy but with economies of scale, within 3-5 years the costs could be the same for both...

Read the full post from here @ Alternative Energy Investor

Labels: wave

Finavera Renewables Signs Contract with SAIC for Ocean Energy Projects

Press release

VANCOUVER, CANADA, March 14 - Finavera Renewables Inc. (TSX-V:FVR)
has announced that SAIC, a leader in system integration, systems engineering
and scientific services, will serve as the system integrator for Finavera
Renewables' portfolio of ocean energy conversion programs and installation
projects. This agreement will combine the technology developed by Finavera
Renewables with the engineering and marine experience of SAIC.

According to the terms of the contract, SAIC, a research and engineering
company, will provide system integration, systems engineering and design
review support, plus program and project management support. SAIC will work
with Finavera to develop, integrate, procure, install and test ocean energy
conversion devices, including the patented "AquaBuOY" in marine renewable
energy parks.

Alla Weinstein, Director and General Manager of Finavera Renewables,
Ocean Energy, said, "This is another significant step in our emerging
industry. This agreement brings two innovative companies together in the
interest of commercializing a new renewable energy technology, introducing it
as an available resource and strengthening energy security. SAIC brings a vast
amount of marine engineering experience to the table, and we are thrilled to
be working with them on the development of our patented 'AquaBuOY' technology
and generating projects. This agreement will advance Finavera Renewables
pursuit of the commercialization of the 'AquaBuOY' and the development of the
wave energy industry worldwide."

Jason Bak, CEO, Finavera Renewables commented, "This agreement is of key
importance for the planned installation of an AquaBuOY device in the USA in
2007. Working with SAIC will allow us to aggressively develop and construct
the AquaBuOY for this deployment. Following this initial installation, it is
anticipated that a number of devices will be deployed in what is planned to be
America's largest wave park."

About Finavera Renewables

Finavera Renewables is a Canadian listed issuer dedicated to the
development of renewable energy resources and technologies. The Company's
objective is to become a major renewable and green energy producer by
developing and operating its assets in the wind and wave energy sectors.

Finavera Renewables is developing several wave energy projects worldwide.
They include a 1MW pilot plant in Makah Bay, Washington State, USA, a 100MW
staged power project in Figuera da Foz, Portugal, a 20MW staged project in
South Africa, and a pilot project in BC, Canada.

Finavera Renewables is also developing wind energy projects with the goal
of delivering near term revenue. Finavera Renewables recently signed an
agreement to acquire the 150 MW Three Hills wind power project in Alberta,
Canada. In addition, twelve projects are under development in the Peace River
region of northeast British Columbia, Canada and six in the Cascades region of
the province's southern interior with a total potential capacity of over
1,500MW. A total potential of 175MW of wind energy projects are planned in
Ireland, in areas with wind resources amongst the best in Europe.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation
of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have
not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and
may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless
registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws
or an exemption from such registration is available. Statements in this news
release, other than purely historical information, including statements
relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results,
constitute Forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on numerous
assumptions and are subject to all the risks and uncertainties inherent in the
Company's business, including risks related to exploration and development.
Consequently, actual results may vary materially from those described in the
Forward-looking statements.

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy
and accuracy of this release.

For more information, contact Finavera Renewables: info@finavera.com, + 1
604 288 9051.

For further information: Media Europe K Capital Source Jonathan Neilan
Tel. +353-1-631-5500 Cell. +353-86-231-4135, or Media North America Finavera Renewables Michael Clark Public Relations Tel. +1-604-288-9051

Labels: ocean, renewable, wave

Wave energy coming to coast

Renewable resource - An Oregon-based electricity co-op and a New Jersey company join forces

March 01, 2007, Gail Kinsey Hill

A Portland-based electric co-op has hooked up with a private company to help develop a wave energy project off the Oregon Coast near Reedsport.

The agreement between Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative (PNGC Power) and New Jersey-headquartered Ocean Power Technologies signals rising commercial interest in the emerging form of renewable energy.

Read the full report from here @ Oregon Live

Labels: renewable, wave

Wave energy catching on
John Driscoll The Times-Standard

28 Feb 2007

PG&E seeks permit for Humboldt, Mendocino

Seeing potential in the waves that buffet the North Coast, the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. plans to file a federal application today to study a swath of ocean off Humboldt Bay for a wave power project.

The preliminary permit application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, plus another for an area off the Mendocino County coast, are the first steps in the possible development of a project to produce electricity. The permits, if granted, act like a mining claim, and would give PG&E exclusive rights to study the areas for three years.

Read the full report from here @ Times Standard Online

Labels: wave

Wave energy set to turn the tide in the UK

By Brian Milligan, Business reporter, BBC News, Island of Hoy

Delegates at a key wave and tidal power conference in London held in Mar 2007 were told that marine energy needs more financial support to help the industry get established as quickly as possible. On Orkney Islands in the UK, the Ocean Power Delivery company is pioneering a wave energy project, and has built a site for the world's biggest wave farm so far, which comprise four 40 metres long steel tubes, which float on the surface of the sea. The action of the waves makes each section flex against the next one. Plenty of sea could mean plenty of energy...

Read the full news report from here @ BBC News

Labels: wave

Green business: Ocean Power rides the alternative energy wave

22 March 2007

Lauren MacGillivray, News Reporter

Ocean Power Technologies is to be involved in a scheme to build a power plant on the Cornish coast (UK) by 2008.

The American company uses PowerBuoy® technology to float large buoy-like devices that are loosely tied to the seabed. The buoys capture wave energy through a turbine and send the energy through a cable to the coastline which is then fed into a power grid.

Read the full news report from here @ City Wire

Labels: ocean, wave