April 2007

WaveRoller proto successfully installed in Peniche, Portugal

First stage of planned pilot plant

The WaveRoller proto now successfully put in action was the first proto of the pilot plant which is to be constructed in Portugal in 2008. If the winds and waves prove to be favorable during the April-May test period, AW-Energy will be able to estimate the energy production potential in different types of circumstances. First results will be available in June 2007.

The installation was completed on the 13th of April in co-operation with the Portuguese marine constructor SETH S.A.

WaveRoller No1 is a fully submerged unit with dimensions of 3.5 by 4.5 by 6meters and weighing about 20 tons. Unit includes "the green wing", the concrete bed, the hydraulic circuit and the generator which transform the energy from ocean waves into electricity.

New patented technology

The WaveRoller installed in nearshore area (in depth of 10–15 m) is a patented new revolutionary wave energy converter (WEC). A single production-sized plate will produce between 10 to 15 kW of electrical power in good wave conditions.

The WaveRoller device is a plate anchored on the sea bottom by its lower part. The back and forth movement of bottom waves (surge phenomenon) moves the plate. The kinetic energy produced by the surge phenomenon to this plate is collected by a piston pump. When using series of plates an element farm can be established and hence a bigger power output obtained.

The WaveRoller is the very first of its kind in full scale category. Before the installation of the prototype, the WaveRoller technology has evolved through numerous promising small scale laboratory tests as well as marine tests conducted in the European Marine Energy Center (EMEC), Scotland and in Ecuador.

Erkki Kasanen, project manager of AW-Energy Oy, stated "The Company has now completed a very important step of the development stage and looks forward to an extended testing period. We are confident that the tests which are now carried out will substantially further the planned pilot plant of 4–5 WaveRoller units."

 

AW-Energy Oy

Lars Sonckin kaari 16 (Terra Building)
FI-02600 Espoo Finland
Tel/Fax +358 9 7262404

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