Oceanlinx 1MW Commercial Wave Energy Demonstrator

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(Project closed 20 June 2014) The Oceanlinx commercial wave energy demonstrator is a 3,000 tonne structure measuring approximately 21 metres wide by 24 metres long. The device was designed to sit in shallow water, using oscillating water column (OWC) technology to generate 1MW peak output.Project innovationThe Oceanlinx patented OWC and air turbine technologies were combined in Oceanlinx’s greenWAVE device, designed to be a highly efficient energy converter with no moving parts under water. As waves rise within the OWC, it was designed to drive a column of air ahead and through a turbine to generate electricity.In February 2014, construction of the device was complete and it was intended to transport the device from Port Adelaide to Port McDonnell for grid connection and 12 months operation and testing. Transportation occurred on 1 March 2014 and was expected to take approximately four days.On 2 March 2014, complications were experienced during transportation of the device, 24 hours into the operation. The device was set down in shallow waters off the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. As a result of the transportation complications, the device was damaged beyond repair.ARENA is investigating lessons learned from this project to share with the industry and state and federal governments.

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