POWER-GENERATING BUOYS
How wave energy converters produce clean power from the ocean
WORDS AILSA HARVEY
The buoys are planned for consumer use in 2025
With today’s technology, the ocean can provide five times more storable energy than the wind. Some companies, such as CorPower Ocean, are beginning to demonstrate how these artfully engineered systems can convert the natural, renewable energy of waves into usable power to meet the world’s escalating electricity demands.
Its fourth-generation C4 wave energyconverting buoys operate with a peak power of 600 kilowatts. This is the maximum electrical power that the buoys can generate in optimal conditions. For standard wind turbines to achieve the same power rating, they would need to be twice as tall and have turbines four times longer.