Case Studies for Schools: Wave Energy
Pelamis - Orkney Islands
Pelamis is currently a prototype floating device and consists of a series of large cylinders joined together with flexible hinges. It is 120 metres long, 3.5 metres wide and 700 tonnes in weight. At sea, the sections of Pelamis move with the waves, powering hydraulic motors which generate electricity. A single Pelamis can produce 750kW of electrical power and a wave farm of Pelamis-type devices covering one square kilometre of ocean could generate enough electricity for 20,000 homes.
Pelamis Sea Snake near Orkney, Scotland: Photo courtesy of Pelamis Wave Power.
The Land Installed Marine Powered Energy Transformer (LIMPET) - Islay
As of 2004, LIMPET is the only fully operational wave power project in the UK that supplies electricity to the National Grid. LIMPET is a 500kW fixed onshore oscillating-water-column (OWC) device. It is installed on the Scottish Island of Islay and was completed in September 2000. To install LIMPET, a gully had to be excavated in the shoreline and a reinforced concrete chamber built to capture the incoming waves. Air trapped in this chamber is then forced through two Wells turbines, each of which is connected to a 250kW generator.
The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) - Orkney
In 2004, a centre that enables the industry to test potential wave energy generators opened in Orkney. It is among the first of its kind in the world.
This testing centre will mean that Orkney is in a good position to take advantage of the great opportunities that are available in this rapidly growing sector.
The marine energy industry has the potential to provide a large number of jobs in Scotland: most of them will be in the remoter areas like the Highlands.
At first the EMEC will test wave power, but if planning consents are granted and partners approve the business plan, the EMEC will be extended to include tidal facilities.