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The Limpet unit on Islay has an inclined oscillating water column that couples with the surge-dominated wave field adjacent to the shore. The water depth at the entrance is typically 7 metres. The design of the air chamber is important to maximise the capture of wave energy and its conversion to pneumatic power. The turbines are carefully matched to the air chamber to maximise power output.
The performance has been optimised for annual average wave energy intensities of between 15 and 25 kilowatts per metre. The water column feeds a pair of counter-rotating turbines, each of which drives a 250-kilowatt generator, giving a maximum output of 500 kilowatts.
The Limpet’s design makes it easy to build and install. Its low-profile design means that it has a limited impact on coastal landscapes or views.
The Pelamis project is the first deep-water, grid-connected trial of a full-size wave power generator to take place anywhere in the world. The Pelamis wave power machine is currently installed and undergoing sea trials at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. Designed and built by Ocean Power Delivery in Scotland, the prototype Pelamis is 120 metres long, 3.5 metres wide and 700 tonnes in weight. When floating on the sea, hinged joints between its articulated cylindrical sections move with the waves, powering hydraulic motors that generate electricity.
Each single 750-kilowatt Pelamis could generate the same amount of power as a wind turbine, and a ‘wave farm’ covering a square kilometre of ocean could provide a power output of 30 megawatts, enough electricity for 20,000 homes.