MIIN Member - Limerick Wave Features in Innovation News Network
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Limerick Wave’s mission is to transform the mechanical power of sea waves into electrical power for general consumption.
The prospect of generating electricity for sea waves is a real one. When we generate electricity from sea waves, we will have a predictable, reliable, and sustainable electricity supply. This predictable source of renewable energy allows for the permanent decommissioning of existing traditional electricity generation sources from fossil and nuclear fuels. 70% of our planet is covered by moving sea waves. The total wave energy resource by far exceeds the global consumption of electricity.1
In the main, companies involved in the wave energy conversion work autonomously and do not share technology; we have not learned from the wind industry, where technology was shared and, as a result, great progress has been achieved.
At Limerick Wave, we have identified the link in the wave energy conversion supply chain that is not fit-for-purpose, namely the Power Take Off (PTO) technology. Existing Wave Energy Converts (WECs) are excellent at capturing the mechanical forces from waves. This is achieved mainly by having one body moving relative to another. Converting this mechanical movement to electricity is the challenge. Sea wave energy is characterised as slow moving with high forces (torque), and to use existing electrical generators we need to turn the rotor at high speed and low torque. It is in this conversion that Limerick Wave have excelled. For more information see here.
How Limerick Wave harvest electrical engergy from sea waves.