Come and meet us at CoTech 2023 in Stavanger!

From 30.11.23 to 01.12.23, the Conference of Computational Methods & Ocean Technology will be held at the University of Stavanger. We will present the functionality of our SWEC there in front of participants from academia and industry from all over the world.

More information about CoTech 2023.

Who we are?

Ocean Energies has one goal: We want to bring blue energy back into focus.

We believe there is great ocean potential to cover part of our future energy consumption. In the near future, several countries would like to use renewable energy as a significant energy source.

To make this work, we need more renewable energy sources than, for example, solar and wind power. We need more active sources when the sun and wind are absent.

Here is where swell wave generated power is to some extent filling in between the mentioned sources. However, this system will also generate power during wind and sunny conditions, meaning the swell wave-generated power generation will typically have a higher utilization factor than the other mentioned sources.

Our mission and vision

Swell waves in the open ocean are always present and can therefore provide a vast source of energy even if there is no local wind or wind waves. This is not properly exploited as per today. Energy production by swell waves is highest in the autumn and winter time and will contribute while the energy is most needed. To become successful in the long term, blue energy must be affordable and competitive with existing green renewable energy sources. To achieve this, our SWEC must have a high energy output per unit, high energy density for a small grid demand, and generate energy as constantly as possible, regardless of wave direction or storms.

Mission

We aim to be below the price per kWh compared to offshore wind within shorter maturing time compared to wind turbines timeline development.

Vision

We want to become a strong technology provider for blue energy and, in the long term, halve the price of energy production compared to offshore wind - for future generations and for us

How it works?

The energy conversion is exploited by so-called swell waves, which are waves generated out on the open sea by low pressure weather systems. Swell waves have a time period of typically about 10 second between crests, and such a wave travel in a speed of about 30km/h. If they were produced by a storm center 720km away, they would arrive 24 hours later with little damping still carrying vast energy.

There may be no wind in the area of the power plant as the swell waves are rolling by. The swells are independent of local wind systems and rich in energy, making them the perfect wave base for a wave energy converter. In order to convert the wave energy into usable energy, we use a patented mechanism in our SWEC-PTO to transform linear motion from ocean waves into one way rotation of turning electric generators or other types of machinery.

Due to the large size of our installations and buoyant elements, the major benefit of the SWEC PTO system is that it is double-acting, meaning it harvests energy in both rising and falling motion. Moreover, it is not limited to vertical travel and is designed to harvest energy from low to the highest waves. Common systems typically have a saturation point where those cannot exploit waves above a certain height, but go to safe mode. This system will continue to operate!

Our SWEC-PTO is based on interaction with bottom-anchored, or submerged tank anchored interaction rods. As the rods protrude through the power take-off system PTO, our system is not theoretically limited on the wave height and can generate power in any sea condition. To secure the highest possible robustness, our system is based upon common offshore installation and anchoring technology.

To keep the Norse goddess of the sea, Rán at our side, the first prototype tested in the sea will be named after her youngest daughter; Unnr - so that wind and weather should not harm it too much by offering some mercy.

Benefits

Career

We do not currently have any specific positions advertised. Nevertheless, we are always looking for people to join us in driving blue energy forward. Do you think you would be an excellent fit for our team? Then send us your CV to info@oceanenergies.no.

Strategic partnerships

Together we create greater things - according to this motto, we are constantly looking for strategic partnerships to take our product to the next level. We are open to all types of partnerships, from product development and product manufacturing to distribution. We are committed to trusting and long-term partnerships. If you would like to collaborate with us in bringing blue energy back into focus, please feel free to contact us at info@oceanenergies.no.

Ocean Energies` Dictionary

SWEC (Swell Wave Energy Converter)
Our wave energy converter is called SWEC. SWEC means the complete converter, including the SWEC-PTO and the whole host structure around it.
SWEC-PTO (Swell Wave Energy Converter-Power Take-Off)
SWEC-PTO means our patented PTO system, which is used to extract energy from the swell waves.
SWELL
Swell waves are waves generated on the open sea by weather systems. They spread at a constant rate in groups of thousands of kilometers. The swells are independent of local wind systems and rich in energy, making them the perfect wave base for a wave energy converter.
PTO (Power Take-Off)
A PTO is a system for extracting energy from a power source, in our case from the waves. Our PTO is placed on a host structure which is lifting it up and down, and interacts with stationary tie rods. The PTO can be removed from the host leaving the host at site.
HOST
The host can be based on an existing offshore floating structure in order to reduce carbon footprint. Or it can be built for purpose. It is designed to be used in waves having 80 to 150 meter in crest distance, typically being about 50-70m in size. One can be arranged by having multiple PTO’s on board, and multiple hosts can be positioned relatively close to each other.

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