By Kalwinder KaurSep 4 2013
Carnegie Wave Energy Ltd, a company in Western Australia have developed wave energy technology that is designed to convert ocean currents into renewable energy and clean water. This is clearly a one-of-a-kind eco-friendly system currently being developed for testing.
This CETO technology is one of the only ocean-tested wave systems in the world to be fully-submerged beneath the ocean's surface and in optimum use to help feed fresh water onshore and, quite remarkably, generates power using wave energy. As an EDF – Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN) and the French naval contractor DCNS approved technology, exactly how does this system work?
Wave energy is abundant and predictable and thus becomes a prime target to discovering how such natural force can help to create a sustainable power supply.
The concept of hydroelectricity can be adopted here to help understand the basic principle behind the CETO technology. A buoy (i.e., a floating device) is attached to the CETO platform and left to float adrift of the sea waves.
The movement of this buoy helps drive a motor anchored to the sea floor, and it is this pump that then delivers the high-pressure water ashore.
The high-pressure water being forced back onshore drives a hydroelectric turbine device that, in turn, uses a reverse osmosis method to desalinate the water making this efficient and cost-effective as is animated in the video below:
One of the key advantages to this technology is the zero-emission electricity and freshwater that is generated. With the ocean covering a vast majority of access points to coastal areas, this technology will become a key attraction for end-users wanting to create a more sustainable environment in their local area.
The CETO technology is also capable of performing at various sea depths and being able to transport zero-emission water and energy to neighboring islands.
Globally, this technology is going to mark a fundamental step in the battle to make our world a more sustainable and eco-friendly space by recycling a natural energy resource. This also tackles transmission issues that are associated with the transfer of electricity to end-users because of the added costs of building transmission lines that handle the distance between the generator point and the load.
Sources and Further Reading
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