Wave power
Generating electricity using the motion of the ocean
Finding renewable energy sources has become more essential than ever as scientists seek solutions to the climate crisis and better ways to supply our expanding energy needs. Two of the most popular natural resources used to generate electricity are the Sun and wind. However, energy from the ocean is a more consistent source.
Water covers more than two-thirds of our planet’s surface, and its natural motion is unceasing. While solar power is limited to daylight hours and wind power is dictated by the weather, wave power remains constant. The strength and frequency of waves can vary, but the sea is never totally still.
But how is it possible to create electricity from this motion? The energy-converting devices responsible vary in their design. Some are relatively small, but float on the surface of the ocean in large numbers. As these move with the fluctuations of the water in wavy conditions, the energy creating this movement is harnessed using magnets.
Other devices have a flat panel design that can be fully immersed in the water. With a large surface area, these devices move with the direction of the waves like a pendulum, tilting one way then the other. One crucial component inside these devices is the hydraulic ram, which pumps high-pressure fluid through the hydraulic motors. The movement of the hydraulic motors causes the electrical generators to produce an electric current.