Riding a wave of success

By Morten Andersen

With seven working pilot plants, Denmark is among the world’s most advanced countries in developing wave power for practical use. And according to the chairman of the Danish Wave Energy Society, Danish experience with wind power has been a great inspiration:

“We can use a lot of the knowledge that the wind industry has gained in materials and modelling of flows – although flows in water are naturally very different from flows in air,” says Erik Skaarup.

“Especially with offshore wind turbines, considerable experience has also been gained in running cables under water and constructing foundations, which are also very relevant to us.”

The two forms of energy also supplement each other well, opines Erik Skaarup: “We are already seeing that some of the latest offshore wind farms are being prepared for the installation of wave power plants in the future. One of the problems with wind power is that the wind can abate within a few hours. Waves also naturally diminish, but the change occurs significantly more slowly. Furthermore, wave power is more predictable – you can calculate what your production will be over the next three days. So there is good synergy in combining wind power and wave power, because wave power can help stabilise the electricity supply. Altogether it is about combining as many renewable energy sources as possible.”

While the vast majority of wind turbines are based on the same fundamental principle, there are major differences between the various concepts in wave power. As chairman of the Danish Wave Energy Society, Erik Skaarup declines to point to any particular concept as the most promising:

“Some of the concepts can be realised on a commercial scale for DKK 5 million (EUR 671,000) while others require investments of up to DKK 200 million (EUR 27 million). I expect that the plants requiring the least investment will be realised first. But which types of plant will be the winners in the long term is a completely different question.”

According to Erik Skaarup, it will be three years before the first plants are sold.

Photo: Scanpix

1. Poseidon – Vindeby, Lolland
   Floating Power Plant A/S has permission to test at Vindeby until March 2010.
   Read more on http://www.floatingpowerplant.com
   
   
   
2. Wave Dragon – Nissum Bredning
   Wave Dragon has permission for testing and electricity production at the Nissum Bredning site until the end of December 2009.
   Read more on http://www.wavedragon.net
   
   
   
3. Wave Star – Nissum Bredning
   Wave Star has permission to test at the Nissum Bredning site until August 2011. The plant is connected to the mainland by a bridge.
   Read more on http://www.wavestarenergy.com
   
   
   
4. Wave Star – Hanstholm
   Wave Star has permission to test at the Hanstholm site until 2013. The plant is connected to the mainland by a bridge.
   Read more on http://www.wavestarenergy.com
   
   
   
5. WavePlane – Hanstholm
   WavePlane has permission to test at the Hanstholm site until August 2009.
   Read more on http://www.waveplane.com
   
   
   
6. and 7 DEXA Wave Energy
   – Venø Bay and Hanstholm
   The model sited in Venø Bay has permission to test until October 2009. The Danish Energy Agency is currently assessing an application for testing at the Hanstholm site until August 2011.
   Read more on http://www.dexawave.com