Wave energy generator unveiled
Feb 24 - Scotsman, The
THE world leader in the race to harness the power of the seas unveiled its first completed prototype wave energy machine yesterday, in a move which could have huge environmental and economic benefits.
The huge machine, similar in size to four train carriages, will undergo two
weeks of testing at Leith docks before being towed to Orkney, where it will be
anchored to the seabed off Stromness and endure a further year's tests under the
watchful gaze of the European Marine Energy Centre.
Successful testing will allow commercial partners to move to the development
of the first multi-machine wave-farm projects, confirming that Scotland has
retained its slight technological lead in the field.
Named after the Greek word for sea snake, the Pelamis will be the first
deep-water, grid-connected trial of a full-size wave-power generator to take
place anywhere in the world.
When afloat on the sea, the GBP 1.5 million system works by means of hinged
joints between its articulated cylindrical sections which move with the waves.
The movement powers hydraulic rams which then force liquid through a motor which
powers a generator and produces electricity.
But OPD's director warned that unless commercial support was offered by
government over the next several years, the jobs and prosperity which should
follow could disappear abroad.
Dr Richard Yemm added: "In terms of jobs, we would be looking at 15 to
20 jobs per megawatt of capacity manufactured here. If we had an industry
manufacturing machines producing just ten megawatts a year then we could expect
a couple of hundred jobs to be supported indefinitely.
"Hopefully we are looking at gigawatts-worth of manufacturing capacity.
Wind now has a manufacturing capacity in the order of six gigawatts a year, and
that supports about 50,000 direct jobs which is comparable to the size of the
off-shore industry here."