Generating power from waves can be done in a number of ways, the two most well known are what we might refer to as the bobbing log and moving air methods.

Bobbing log

Put a log at the end of a pier, and a piece of wood down, fixed to the log and the other end connected to the peddle of an upturned bicycle. If you get it just right you will get a steadily spinning wheel. To make it more efficient you need to be able to keep the distance from the waves to your machine more constant, have more rods so as to convert it from the equivalent of a single cylinder system to a multi and add a flywheel to carry over the energy, you can then add a generator.

Clearly with a country floating on the water as opposed to being tidally different from the water makes this principle easier for us to apply.

This bobbing motion is also ideal for driving a pump, so could be combined with an OTEC system.

Air method

Take a large heavy box, add floats, allow water to enter at the bottom under the water level, and put two holes  in the top, stand on the top, and put it in the sea. You will feel as the waves lap in and out of the bottom that air is being forced out from and then sucked back through the holes. 

Add a one way valve to each one in and one out, and the air through a propeller system and on to a flywheel. The air now comes out through one hole spinning the flywheel, and  is sucked in through the other spinning it again. Connect this to a generator and you have electricity.

An experimental version of a system on this type of design was tried in the UK, North Sea, but sank before full results could be obtained. Built into our complete wall we would have the rigidity to support this.

Our case

In our case, we would just about always have sufficient rise and fall of the waves within the ocean to drive a system based on either of the above. Build into all forward wall units and you can produce a very large amount of electricity. What we do not know is if the sea is ever completely flat with no waves mid ocean, we are told this never occurs, however for flexible weather conditions the air system is more reliable and can be adjusted far easier, by adding pressure release valves so that if the rise and fall is too great the equipment is not damaged.

Other developments

See our page within this web on pneumatics, which has a page off covering moving air generation from pneumatic platforms.

Many other ideas are being considered including wave based waterwheels, using an infill and out valve system and various methods of using bobbing pipes and valves to pump water ups a few feet and drop it back through a water wheel. 

Also watch the books page, as an ebook on all forms of power generation from waves or the sea in general is being looked at.

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Last updated: October 09, 2002.