Feeding Fish the Sustainable Way Using Clean, Renewal Wave Energy

The patented Smart Power Buoy WEC (Wave Energy Converter) is the result of over 10 years’ research and development to produce a wave energy converter that is sympathetic to the environment – both physically and visually. It provides clean renewable energy, is affordable, easy to deploy from small ships with a 2-ton crane – or even can be towed into position (see photos below). The big advantages of our wave energy buoys are they can be placed relatively close to the shore - as little as 300m to 500m from where the power is required or be easily deployed 1,5km offshore. Wherever they are located they blend into the environment as they are hidden in the waves due to the height of the buoy being less than 1m. The power curves are unique for a WEC as the power grows quickly in 1,5 - 2m waves to maximum and stays constant even in big waves during storms. This prevents mechanical overloading of the system - ensuring survivability and consistent power production irrespective of weather conditions. The Smart Power Buoys positively impact the marine environment as it can create a fish haven below water and does not interfere with marine life, unlike the noise and CO2 polluting electric and diesel generators do.

The Resen Waves Smart Power Buoy comprises a waterproof cylinder, which contains the complete mechanical-to-electric drive train, and a low weight float. ​

It is a floating mechanical device that uses wave movement to activate a generator and produce electric power to turn a central drum back & forth with the wave action. The buoys can be placed in small groups in the sea depending on the local power requirement.

The buoy can easily be left in the sea for over 12 months before requiring any maintenance. A local company could maintain the buoys following some basic training.

Having reviewed the information on the consumption by the SILO feeding platform and the FISH FEEDER floating barge – respectively 33 liters and 40 liters of diesel consumed per day - we calculated that this equates to electric energy of 132kWh for the SILO and 160kWh for the FISH FEEDER. This is equivalent to a continuous power distributed over 24 hours of 5,5kW for the SILO feeding platform and 6,7kW for the FISH FEEDER.

To meet this demand it will require a wave energy system of approximately 12kW nominal power for the SILO and 15kW nominal power for the FISH FEEDER plus a battery pack at each location of respectively 150kWh and 190 kWh.

From the background information, the waves are small in the summer season and big in the winter season. This indicates it could be a good idea to supplement the installations with PV panels in the summertime when the PV production is high, and the waves are small. Based on wave data (average wave height and wave period over the 12 months) and information about average sun power distributed over the 12 months of the year, it is possible to make a valid prediction of the power production needed to meet your requirements.

Smart Power Buoys would be installed close to the SILO feeding platform and the FISH FEEDER respectively. It is key to note the wave energy buoys form part of the offshore marine environment and would not adversely affect fish or birds.

For the given task we would use groups of 3kW Smart Power Buoys to accommodate the power requirement. These will constantly power the battery packs which can be located on the SILO feeding platform and the FISH FEEDER floating barge.

Resen Waves is a lean team of passionate and friendly technical, commercial, academic, and creative individuals all brought together under the leadership of Per Resen Steenstrup.

Per Resen Steenstrup – Resen Waves CEO, M.Sc. ME, and serial entrepreneur. Per brings over 30 years of experience in small- and large-scale wave and underwater technology plus global sales to offshore companies. He guides Resen Waves, technically and commercially, with the overall aim to help limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Technical Team

Andrea Baldini is our technical lead. He’s a Mechanical Engineer and has been working with Resen Waves for over five years. He enjoys putting into practice his extensive knowledge gained from his MSc Marine Renewable Energy and has been a key player in creating the unique Smart Power Wave Buoy we have today. Areas of work include managing the design of our buoys for testing, including structural analysis of critical components through FEA and non-linear simulations

DTU team supports Resen Waves ensuring we can benefit from the latest technical solutions and thinking particularly around numerical modeling. Professor Harry Bingham from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, Coastal and Maritime Engineering at Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is a highly respected and widely published professor who teaches and researches nonlinear ocean waves and their interaction with fixed and floating marine structures. He is joined by Robert Read Senior Researcher DTU Mechanical Engineering. Robert researches how water waves interact with engineered structures in the open ocean, with a special focus on accelerating the development of wave-energy absorbers like our Smart Power Buoy.

AAU team – Peter Frigaard is Associate Professor, Dept of the Built Environment; The faculty of Engineering and Science; Division of Water and Environment; Division of Water and Environment; Ocean and Coastal Engineering Research Group.  Peter’s independent testing and feedback has been highly valued since the inception of Resen Waves and throughout the evolution of the Smart Power Buoy. He is Head of Department and Associate Professor at Aalborg University (AAU), Department of Civil Engineering which has a strong record of participation in the development of wave energy in Denmark over the last 10 years.

Commercial Team

Jane Blinkenberg works closely day to day on all commercial and marketing activities with Per. She is a NED board member and has BA (Hons) Business studies; over 20 years’ high-tech marketing expertise plus over six years in the offshore sector. She enjoys being able to realize her passion to help fight climate change by working within the renewable energy sector.   

Thomas Resen Steenstrup - a passion for the environment plus strong technological and design skills obviously run in the family as Thomas clearly demonstrates in his role as digital advisor and web designer for Resen Waves. He is pursuing his studies, gaining commercial experience whilst helping to increase awareness of Resen Waves and our values.

Christian Blinkenberg – plays a valuable advisory role as a Non-Executive Director of Resen Waves. He brings over 25 years’ commercial expertise in global offshore sales, related to underwater instruments. He has an M.Sc. in Economics and speaks six languages having lived and worked in Europe, the US, South America, and Africa.  

Roland Boysen: CCO has a BA in Mechanical Engineering and MBA in International Management. He has 10 years of experience in offshore with a particular focus on eliminating safety risks whilst increasing operational efficiencies and effectiveness.

Manufacturing team

Resen Waves manages the whole supply chain and works closely with 10 local subcontractors who manufacture all metal and stainless-steel machining, rubber parts, glass fiber, generator, gears plus carry out the assembly, testing and control of the electronics.