Italian achievements in the exploitation of wave energy
(Rinnovabili.it) – Pantelleria will be the first to exploit in Italywave energy to supply electricity. the device ISWEC Supplement which has been in Sicilian waters for studies and tests since 2012, was connected yesterday to the island’s network. The national and world premiere showcases nearly 20 years of commitment and is now entering a new phase. The small marine factory will not only contribute to the needs of Pantelleria, but will also serve as an illustrative base for the development of a second generation of machines for the exploitation of the sea.
What is ISWEC and how does it work?
ISWEC, short for Sea wave inertial transducer, is a wave transducer. Compared to other devices made for the same purpose, it stands out thanks to the lack of fixed restrictions on the sea floor as well as the components in the relative movement in the water. The entire conversion assembly is housed in a sealed environment within the float body, to ensure minimal environmental impact. car flip? a rotation system It consisted of two 10-tonne flywheels placed alternately and mounted in a sealed environment of the hull with electric generators. The device produces electricity by coupling the oscillating motion of the hull and the rotating motion of the flywheels.
ISWEC’s strengths are modularity (spin unit can be changed to change transformer nominal power), reliability, competitiveness (cost can compete with diesel electricity generation cost) and adaptability to different wave conditions (power output is maximized thanks to device control based on weather and marine data).
date
The project is signed Eni, Polytechnic of Turin and energy wave srl – a branch of the university – and represents one of the most advanced technologies in Italy to exploitTidal Energy. Behind years of studies and tests. The first concept dates back to 2006 but to reach the final version in 1: 1 scale we had to wait for 2012. In August of that year, the three partners installed an 800m Pantelleria coastline and a 35m deep, 8x15x4.5m ISWEC, equipped with Peak power is 260 kW.
Since then, the consortium has studied performance and performance, waiting for the extension of the cable duct and subsequent connection to the distribution network. But Pantelleria one isn’t the only inertial sea wave transducer in operation today. Eni, Polito and Wave for Energy have carried out a second pilot project with a nominal capacity of 50 kW, in the waters of Ravenna.
Energy from waves, potential
The sea is probably the largest source of renewable energy in the world. Recent estimates consider that the world’s water likely has an available capacity of 2.7-3 terawatts, which equates to more than 20,000 TWh per year. In this overall sector, offshore wave energy provides one of the most reliable and predictable renewable sources. It is continuous and has an energy density greater than that of the wind and the sun. Not only.
Read also Marine energy in Italy What is the state of technological progress?
As the three partners explain in a press release, ISWEC’s technology has a low impact on the landscape. “theThe device appears only 1 meter above the water level. Furthermore, ISWEC can be ideally integrated with other renewable energy production solutions in the marine sector, such as wind energy, in terms of valorization of grid connection systems and integration within the sea area, and the optimization of available energy conversion.”
“Infuriatingly humble social media buff. Twitter advocate. Writer. Internet nerd.”
