Eco Wave Power is a leading onshore wave energy technology company that has developed a patented, smart and cost-efficient technology for turning ocean and sea waves into clean electricity. More information on Eco Wave Power can be found in the following short video that was prepared by The Sustainable Markets Initiative by HRH Prince Charles, the World Economic Forum, and the Bank of America:
Eco Wave Power has studied the Port of Samos and has assessed the site as potentially suitable for the deployment of EWP’s wave energy technology. The Port contains existent man-made structures on which the EWP system can potentially be installed to generate clean renewable electricity from the local waves in the Icarian Sea. Based on EWP’s preliminary assessment, the total space available at the Port may be sufficient to produce a considerable amount of clean electricity from wave energy, which will allow the community to optimize its limited space for energy production with a clean & cost-effective technology and will help the Municipality to achieve its ambitious targets of absolute energy independence by 2050.
How does the Eco Wave Power Technology Work?
The image below illustrates
the EWP system’s core working principles.
Uniquely shaped floaters (1) rise and fall with the up and down movement of the waves, utilising
its buoyancy force, the changes in water level and flow, the "air
lock" effect (hydrofoil), and the vertical movement of waves leading to an
efficient energy conversion process. Different types of floaters enable the
system to be optimised for different types of wave regimes, depending upon the
location. The EWP floaters are equipped with sensors that continuously monitor
the performance of the various subsystems and the surrounding ocean
environment, transmitting the data to EWP’s on-land systems. The data from the
sensors also serves to activate the storm protection mechanism in the case of
upcoming storms.
In working mode, the movement of the floater compresses the hydraulic pistons (2), which send biodegradable fluid into the land-located accumulators. The accumulators (3) collect the fluid and store it until enough pressure is reached. When such pressure is reached the accumulators discharge it with the purpose of rotating the hydraulic motor (4). The hydraulic motor’s operational volume is automatically adjusted in accordance with real-time waves and prevailing pressure in BARs. The asynchronous generator (5) converts the rotation into electrical energy which is then provided to the grid (through specialized inverters,). After decompression, the fluid flows back into the non-pressurized hydraulic fluid tank (6) from where it is re-used by the pistons, thus creating a closed circular system.
The following video that was prepared by the Weather Channel indicates
the key principles and features of the EWP innovative wave energy system:
Smart Control System
The entire operation is controlled and monitored by a smart control
system. The smart control system manages the pressure release of the
accumulators in a way that stabilises the output and starts generating power at
much lower pressure (30 bar vs 60 bar of a typical system).
Significantly, only the floaters and hydro cylinders (pistons) are located
in the water; all other parts are based on land, thereby improving reliability,
providing easy access for maintenance and repair, and eliminating the risk of
oil or hydraulic fluid spill, as well as the risk of mechanical damage.
Storm Protection
In the event of storms, EWP floaters automatically “recognise” the type of waves, and when the waves are too high for the system to handle, the floaters automatically rise above the water level and lock in the upward position until the storm passes. When the waves return to an operable height, the system unlocks and recommences energy conversion and transmission of the electrical power to the grid.
Modularity
The Eco Wave Power technology is fully modular which results in several benefits. The scalability provided by the modularity of the technology allows for a gradual step by step expansion and increased application versatility. This means that a MW scale system is no more complex on a modular basis than a KW scale system
According to
the United Nations, energy is the largest contributor to climate change
accounting for over 60% of global GHG emissions. As a result, there is a
significant need to adopt new and clean sources of electricity production
worldwide to tackle the lack of access to electricity and rising energy demand
while decreasing the pollution rates. Wave energy can be a large part of the
solution to the problem, as according to a 2020 report from IRENA, wave energy
has the potential to meet all of global energy demand with potential global
energy production from waves estimated at 29,500 terawatt-hours of electricity
per year and since nearly 2.4 billion people, about 40% of the global
population lives within 100km of a coast. Furthermore, in suitable locations wave
energy can produce electricity around the clock in contrast to other leading
renewable energy sources which are intermittent. According to estimates, the
successful development of wave energy technology could generate 188GW of energy
in Europe alone already by 2050, which would be equivalent to roughly 10% of all
the region's electricity needs.
The Port of
Samos, located in City of Samos in Italy, is open to the Icarian Sea and, as a
result, enjoys sufficient wave activity, which can be converted into clean
electricity. EWP’s team has identified the Port of Samos as potentially
suitable for the installation of the Eco Wave Power wave energy technology, as
the Port has an existent cement jetty of about 300m on which the EWP’s system
could be deployed.
If EWP’s wave energy technology were to be implemented in the Port of Samos it could supply clean electricity and help the Island to achieve its energy independence goals with a 100% renewable energy source. In addition, one of the advantages of the EWP system is that it has a minimum impact on the visual landscape, as the EWP’s floaters are attached to the external side (facing the ocean) of the relevant maritime structure. To illustrate this, our team has prepared the basic preliminary illustration below for a potential EWP project at the Port of Samos:
The implementation of the EWP technology to power the region with clean electricity from waves will position the Samos Island as a leader in the adoption of new renewable energy technologies and at the forefront of innovation.
Through the implementation of EWP’s innovative technology, the Samos Island will have significant impacts on several areas of the municipality, including health, job creation, and access to electricity. The project will create the following impact:
Emissions reduction: Based on EWP’s initial
calculations, a 1MW installed capacity wave energy power station, with a
capacity factor of 42%, will produce annually around 3,695,712 kW/h of clean
electricity.
If the same amount of electricity was to be produced from
fossil fuels, the emissions would equal 2,613 metric tons of Carbon Dioxide,
which is equal to the carbon dioxide emissions from 294,027 gallons of consumed
gasoline, showing that the amount of GHGs avoided from a 1MW EWP power station
to be significant.
Therefore, a wave energy power station installed in the Port of Samos could significantly reduce emissions in the region of the municipality by offsetting traditional energy generation methods for electricity supply.
Air Pollution: Energy use and production in many countries (including countries in the Mediterranean region) is a significant and immediate cause of high levels of air pollution and other forms of environmental degradation. Global dependence on cheap fossil fuel-based power generation methods has significantly harmed the global environment and threatened the health of millions of people worldwide. EWP’s technology offers an opportunity for locally produced, clean, and affordable power generation in these environments.
Access to Electricity and Supply: One of the greatest benefits of the Eco Wave Power
wave energy technology is that it allows for power generation in remote areas
and in proximity to the population, as it creates clean electricity directly on
the shoreline, thereby, allowing the Samos Island to generate clean renewable electricity
directly in the Island without having to transport the electricity (typically
derived from fossil fuel sources) over long distances. Furthermore, the
technology will help increase the Island’s electricity supply and allow it to
deliver cost-effective and clean electricity for the use of the Municipality’s community.
Job Creation: According to the European Ocean Energy Association, 400,000 jobs could be created by the Ocean Energy industry by 2050, if the European target of 188GW installed capacity of ocean energy is fulfilled. The potential implementation of an EWP wave energy project in the Samos Island will create several new direct (through hiring employees) and indirect (through subcontractors) workplaces in the municipality. The workplaces will be created throughout the different phases of the project including licensing, feasibility studies, environmental studies, and detailed planning. In addition, multiple jobs for engineers will be required - mainly mechanical, hydraulic, civil, electrical and automation engineering. The actual construction of the wave energy power stations will also create new employment opportunities for local civil engineers, welders, technical professionals, electricians, and technicians. Moreover, when the power station is constructed, there will be a significant need for operation and maintenance professionals for 25 years (the lifespan of the power station).
The EWP team and
advisors bring multidisciplinary experience, and a well-balanced and deep
knowledge in all aspects of the Company’s business including research and
development, engineering, intellectual property, project development, business
development & commercialization, and management of companies related to the
development and commercialization of products in the renewable energy space. The Company is supported by a global
network of advisors, research institutes, and universities.
The EWP team
is highly experienced in the wave energy sector and has a proven track record
in projects execution and installing and operating wave energy projects as the
Company already has operational projects in Gibraltar and Israel and a global
projects pipeline of over 325MW under development.