Oceanlinx

Oceanlinx is a leading international company which has created Wave Energy Converter technology. The company has developed proprietary technology for extracting energy from ocean waves and converting it into either electricity or desalinated sea water. Known as Energetech until 2007, Oceanlinx has been designing and deploying wave energy systems since 1997. The company has developed both a shallow water version of its technology, named greenWAVE, and a corresponding deep water version named blueWAVE. These commercial products are the culmination of this detailed decade-long development phase. Oceanlinx remains at the leading edge of marine renewable technology development.

History

• January 2011: Oceanlinx has reveals the latest version of its proprietary turbine – the airWAVE turbine.
• December 2010: Certification authority Det Norske Veritas (DNV) has independently verified the power output of Oceanlinx’s blueWAVE OWC. Based on the results from the one-third scale MK3PC deployed in early 2010 at Port Kembla, DNV concluded that, for a full-scale device that was tuned to the appropriate wave height and period, the Oceanlinx methodology for calculating the resulting power is accurate. This is a powerful third party validation of Oceanlinx’s rigorous quality control and of the blueWAVE capability to produce an electrical output of 2.5 MW.
• December 2010: Oceanlinx unveils new technology proWAVE, greenWAVE and blueWAVE.
• July 2010: Results from the MK3PC exceeded expectations in regard to performance. Independent electrical generation data supplied by the power off-taker, Integral Energy, has validated the 2.5 MW rated design of the full scale device. The unit was operated with both the Oceanlinx proprietary turbine and a third party turbine, and produced consistent grid-quality electricity that was supplied to local Integral Energy customers in the Illawarra region.
• March 2010: MK3PC is the first in Australia of this size to be connected to the electrical grid and producing energy.
• December 2009: Oceanlinx named by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as one of the Top Ten Renewable Energy Investment Opportunities in the World.
• July 2009: Oceanlinx secures A$16m new investment funding from million from an investor syndicate comprising the New Energy Fund, Espírito Santo Ventures and Emerald Technology Ventures.
• June 2009: The Oceanlinx Mk1 Full Scale demonstration plant achieved the milestone of 500 operational hours since its refurbishment early in the year.
• May 2009: Oceanlinx successfully completed a round of tank testing confirming the significant improvements achieved by the latest design of the Oceanlinx technology. The design is well underway and will be deployed by Oceanlinx in its demonstration projects in Australia and Overseas.
• March 2009: Ali Baghaei joins Oceanlinx as Chief Executive Officer
• November 2007: £5.9 million investment from institutional and venture capital investors.
• August 2007: Oceanlinx Chief Technology Officer, Tom Denniss, received the Ocean Energy Pioneer: Technology Award at the Energy Ocean event.
• April 2007: The company changes its name to Oceanlinx
• February 2007: £6.0 million fundraising with institutional investors
• February 2007: Energetech acknowledged by International Academy of Science
• January 2007: The Energetech technology is named by the International Academy of Science as one of the ten most outstanding technologies in the world
• December 2006: Energetech completes a permanent installation of its Port Kembla Wave Energy Plant
• October 2005: Energetech’s patented Denniss-Auld Turbine generates power and, via the desalination plant, fresh water at the test location in Port Kembla
• April 2005: The Centre for Energy and Greenhouse Technologies invests A$500,000
• March 2005: Energetech launches its Industry Advisory Service division
• May 2004: Energetech is awarded a A$1.21 million research & development grant by the Australian Federal Government, facilitating its Wave Energy Optimisation program
• November 2003: Energetech America receives grant funding of US$500,000 from two state renewable funds for the development and construction of a wave energy project in Rhode Island, USA
• March 2003: The first full-scale Denniss-Auld turbine is successfully constructed and tested
• 2002: Three European investment groups specializing in innovative energy technology, led by Sustainable Asset Management, invest US$3.75 million, and German based RWE Dynamics invests US$750,000
• November 2001: Energetech closes a round of venture capital funding with the Connecticut Innovations Incorporated in the USA, enabling the establishment of a US subsidiary, Energetech America
• 1999: Energetech receives a A$750,000 Federal Government grant to develop the Port Kembla project
• 1997: Oceanlinx is founded by Dr. Tom Denniss (as Energetech Australia Pty Limited)

Oceanlinx Technology

airWAVE Turbine

Most turbines are designed to function with a gas or liquid flowing in a single direction with constant flow. Given the oscillating nature of wave power, turbines designed for a single direction and constant flow are very ineffective for this application. Many turbines have been designed over the years in an attempt to overcome this limitation, but with limited success and generally low efficiency. The airWAVE turbine has successfully overcome these limitations. The airWAVE is a design evolution, improving upon the original Denniss-Auld turbine. The airWAVE has fewer moving parts and a conversion efficiency that is higher than both the Denniss-Auld and other comparable turbines. It is located well above the ocean, with no moving parts at all in the water. The airWAVE turbine further improves the overall wave-to-wire efficiency of the Oceanlinx greenWAVE and blueWAVE products.

greenWAVE

Oceanlinx has a developed a specific shallow water oscillating water column (OWC) application, termed greenWAVE . This OWC is located in about ten metres of water depth, and is mounted on the seabed. While the structure can technically be fabricated from any material, it is generally made from concrete or steel.

The method of fixing the structure to the bottom of the ocean is dependent on the geotechnical nature of the seabed. The preferred option, where geotechnical conditions are conducive, is to simply allow the structure to remain in place under its own weight.

Each greenWAVE is initially sealed, resulting in a buoyant structure. It is floated to its deployment site, where the buoyant seal is removed, and the greenWAVE is sunk to it resting position. The distance from shore will depend on the seabed slope, and how rapidly the nominal ten metres of water depth is achieved.

Besides what lies below the waterline, the structure also extends several metres above sea level. The above sea level component of the structure is where the airWAVE turbine and electrical control systems are housed. The airWAVE turbine is the only moving part of the technology, and is located well above the waterline.

The Oceanlinx greenWAVE technology differs from blueWAVE in several key areas. Besides being fixed to the seabed, it is smaller and in shallower water. It is also typically constructed from concrete, as opposed to blueWAVE’s steel. The biggest differentiator, however, is that greenWAVE involves a single OWC, whereas blueWAVE is a cluster of six OWCs.

The electrical output of a greenWAVE unit is dependent on the local wave climate. In a very good climate, a single 20 metre wide greenWAVE device would be rated at 1 MW or more. The unit can be dedicated to the production of electricity, desalinated seawater, or both.

blueWAVE

Oceanlinx has also a developed a specific deep water oscillating water column (OWC) application, termed blueWAVE (for more on how an OWC works, please see the Our Technology page). This structure comprises a cluster of six floating OWCs, joined together via a space-frame. The blueWAVE is located in 40 - 80 metres of water depth, and is an anchored floating device. While the structure can technically be fabricated from any material, it is generally made from steel.

The method of anchoring the floating structure to the bottom of the ocean is dependent on the geotechnical nature of the seabed. Gravity, drag, and suction anchors are typical candidates for this task.

Each blueWAVE is floated to its deployment site, where the task of securing the anchoring system takes place. The distance from shore will depend on the seabed slope, and how rapidly the nominal 40 – 80 metres of water depth is achieved.

Besides what lies below the waterline, each of the six OWCs also extends several metres above sea level. The above sea level component of the structure is where the airWAVE turbine and electrical control systems are housed. The airWAVE turbine is the only moving part of the technology, and is located well above the waterline.

The Oceanlinx blueWAVE technology differs from greenWAVE in several key areas. Besides being a floating structure in deeper water, its six OWC chambers results in it being bigger than greenWAVE. It is also typically constructed from steel, as opposed to greenWAVE’s concrete.

The electrical output of a blueWAVE unit is dependent on the local wave climate. In a good climate, a single blueWAVE device would be rated at 2.5 MW or more. The unit can be dedicated to the production of electricity, desalinated seawater, or both.

proWAVE

proWAVE software is an Oceanlinx tool which allows one to model a wave energy converter (WEC) as a fully integrated system including oscillating water column (OWC), turbine, generator, flywheel, and all manner of controls features. How it works? proWAVE solves a system of differential equations for water elevation inside the OWC, air pressure in the air chamber, and the OWC’s structural elevation itself (for the floating product) in real time. proWAVE allows one to:

• Predict pneumatic power delivered by any OWC with various geometries and configurations
• Predict electric power (instant, average, or annual) depending on ocean wave history
• Analyze water elevation inside any OWC, as well as the OWC’s structural elevation in real time
• Perform all manner of quick analyses
• Analyze and optimize various control strategies for turbines and generators.

Interesting facts about proWAVE

• Input ocean wave history may be presented either as an excel file with two columns, wave elevation versus time, or as an occurrence matrix based on wave period Tp (sec) and height Hs (m). A pre-defined matrix structure is not required, as proWAVE converts the input data into a standardized format.
• proWAVE contains a database of regular and irregular wave histories for various Hs and Tp. Therefore, all that is needed for the prediction of annual energy production for any site is an occurrence matrix related to that site - proWAVE will do the rest.
• OWCs are defined by a set of input parameters, such as geometry, water depth, buoyancy, center line length, and others.
• Turbine and generator characteristics are presented by so-called turbine performance and generators curves.
• All results are presented graphically in real time and recorded in a file called Protocol. The user is able to analyze any details at a later time.
• Motions of waves outside and inside the OWC, along with the OWC itself, are animated. The user can observe moving pictures which are very close to reality.

Current Commercial Projects

With the finalization of the development phase of the ocean energy technology, the maturing of the product design, and the interest generated by the numerous international awards and accolades bestowed upon Oceanlinx and its renewable energy technology, new projects are rapidly taking shape. The following is a list of some of the areas where projects are already in the development phase, or where Oceanlinx has a strong interest in developing ocean energy projects. Oceanlinx, either directly or through its subsidiary SPVs, has an interest in the areas listed below. Oceanlinx's work in these areas is at varying levels of maturity.

Australia

• Victoria
• King Island

Europe

• Portugal
• United Kingdom
• Spain

North America

• Hawaii (USA)
• Mexico

Past Projects

Oceanlinx has built and operated three wave energy projects in the past. Each of these has been located at Port Kembla, approximately 100km south of Sydney, Australia. These projects have been the precursors to the latest versions of the Oceanlinx technology - the greenWAVE and blueWAVE products.

Mk1 Full Scale Prototype

The Oceanlinx Mk1 full scale prototype was fitted out and first deployed in 2005. The approximately 500 tonne device used a parabolic wall to concentrate the wave energy into its 100 square metre Oscillating Water Chamber (OWC). The device made use of a Denniss-Auld turbine.

The Mk1 Full Scale prototype was one of the first full scale wave energy devices in the world. Its operation between 2005 and 2009 has provided invaluable test and operational data guiding the development of subsequent designs.

The Mk1 Full Scale prototype completed its function and was decommissioned during the second half of 2009, ending a watershed period in the company’s history.

Mk2 1/3 Scale

Oceanlinx built and deployed an instrumented 1/3rd scale test unit of its Mk2 device in late 2007 and early 2008. The purpose of the Mk2 Third Scale was to obtain detailed technical data for floating devices.

Mk3 Pre Commercial

Port Kembla was the site of Oceanlinx's most recent wave energy converter design – the Mk3 Pre-Commercial. The Mk3 Pre-Commercial, or Mk3PC for short, was a demonstration scale device that is identifiably similar to the fully commercial blueWAVE design, but was designed to be limited in its life, operations, and scale to suit both the environment at Port Kembla and its purpose as a demonstration of the technology.

The Mk3PC was installed at Port Kembla on 26 February 2010, about 100 metres off the eastern breakwater of Port Kembla Harbour. It was connected to the grid and provided electricity from 19 March to May 14 2010 to customers of local retailer, Integral Energy. The Mk3PC is believed to have been the first of its size in Australia to be grid connected, and one of the first in the world.

The official launch of the MK3PC project took place on 29 March 2010 in Port Kembla and was attended by a variety of dignitaries, including four Australian Federal and State. The plaque commemorating the event was unveiled by The Honourable Peter Garrett, Federal Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts, Commonwealth of Australia.

The MK3PC served the very important and specific function of verifying the performance of the Oceanlinx blueWAVE product in open ocean conditions, as well as its ability to provide acceptable grid-quality power to an established electricity retailer. The MK3PC immediately proved successful in achieving these aims, and validated the ability of the full scale blueWAVE design to be rated at 2.5 MW.

Results from the one-third scale model of the Oceanlinx floating wave energy technology, dubbed the MK3PC, have exceeded expectations in regard to performance. The unit was deployed for three months, from February to May, 2010, and operated successfully during that time as one of the world’s first grid-connected generators of electricity from ocean waves.

References

External links

• Oceanlinx Homepage

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