A Finnish developer of systems that generate power from the motion of waves, AW-Energy Oy, has raised $9 million from investors to build an innovative hydroelectric plant. The country’s biggest utility, Fortum Oyj (FUM1V), is projected to help commercialize this technology. Sitra is an innovation fund that reports to … [continued]
The WaveRoller arrived on January 2nd at Portugal’s Peniche Shipyard for a much anticipated pilot test this summer off the coast of Portugal, one of the best testing sites in Europe for ocean energy. The scaled-up version for the pilot test is to be tested in the same waters near the sea shore of Peniche where its smaller prototype showed promise (Previous: WaveRoller Uses Swinging Door for Underwater Wave Energy.)
Wave energy involves very large machines that must survive harsh underwater conditions. Even this pre-commercial version weighs 280 tons, and the test has been financed by the European Commission.
Today is world water day. We’ve written quite a number of posts on different ways water is connected to cleantech and clean energy. Rather than write a whole new post on one or two aspects of this, I’ve decided to do a compilation piece. The following are articles on CleanTechnica (and a few from our sister site Planetsave) on some of the connections between cleantech and water.
One of the charming things I discovered about Finland’s green tech sector on my blogger tour this summer is how close-knit a group the whole green energy sector can be in a nation of just 7 million souls. Where everybody knows everybody, there is an unusual degree of collaboration between … [continued]
You have to get up pretty early in the morning to beat dawn’s early light in Finland’s summer. About 1.30 AM during the week I was there. But all winter the only light you see is electric. Perhaps that is why the green tech sector in Finland is so focused … [continued]
Not only do off-shore wind turbines not harm marine life, but they actively encourage more of it, a very encouraging study has just concluded, after closely following the effects of the off-shore wind farms being built off the European coast.
Moving on from the problems encountered in the Northern California wave energy tests off Mendocino and Humboldt Counties; PG&E has just filed a new preliminary permit application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for another three-year study of a potential wave power site.
This time the proposed site is off the coast of Santa Barbara County at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Like every Federal Agency, the Air Force is now under Executive Order to cut transport carbon emissions 30% and to power buildings with renewable energy, possibly making this location more amenable to tests of a renewable energy source that has that potential.
The simplest ideas are best at harnessing underwater wave energy. You don’t want lots of parts in the harsh marine environment (for machine parts) under the ocean. Here’s an idea from a diver from Finland who was almost hit in the head by a shipwreck door that inspired this invention: … [continued]
