Energy from ocean waves – wave
of the future?
Swell Fuel, an ocean wave
energy company, announced it will begin marketing ocean wave energy converters
to researchers, universities and technology companies early next year.
The goal is to demonstrate the ability to produce clean and efficient energy
from ocean waves and to initiate deployment of Swell Fuel’s products
on a larger scale. Many countries are
interested in installing ocean energy converters but won’t
commit to unproven products. As a result, Swell Fuel will be selling units
for testing for as low as $1,000.
With patent-pending prototypes and four sizes to choose from, the company
will offer units that produce 20, 100, 1,000 and 5,000 watts of electricity.
Feedback will be requested from researchers to enhance and improve future
product designs. Using a lever-operated
pivoting float anchored to the lake or ocean floor, Swell Fuel’s
converters are activated when wave action lifts a lever in an up-and-down
motion, which in turn produces electricity.
The company has licensed its product in seven countries and many see it as
a solution to providing energy and electricity for coastal area residents.
Earlier this year, Swell Fuel successfully tested its prototypes in the waters
of El Salvador and at a research facility at The University of Rhode Island.
“This is not some theoretical product that is years away from implementation,” said
Franklin Olson, CFO of Swell Fuel. “These units are ready to produce
electricity right now.”
Having gone through over 30 different prototypes, Olson claims to have perfected
his product for use on a much larger scale. He claims that linking multiple
units together on a grid-like system will one day provide enough energy for
entire coastal cities.
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