Wind Energy Testing Site Harnessed For Wave Power/Renewable Now.biz

Another step towards a milestone breakthrough in harnessing the clean power of our waves/tidal shifts.



In the first ever trial of its kind in the U.S., the huge dynamometers housed at the National Wind Technology Centre (NWTC) in Boulder, Colorado, will be used to help bring a breakthrough wave energy system to fruition.

Usually set aside for testing the latest in onshore and offshore wind turbine technology, engineers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which operates the NWTC facility on behalf of the U.S. government, will work with Columbia Power Technologies to develop its StingRAY system.

“Though designed to benefit the wind industry, the NWTC’s large dynamometer facility is being leveraged to help advance new ocean energy technology,” said NWTC Director Daniel Laird.
“While still in the early stages of development, ocean energy is progressing rapidly. Over the coming decades, ocean energy could become a major source of electricity powering high-population-density areas near the coasts.”

Columbia Power’s StingRAY wave power system harnesses ocean energy by using two forward and aft floats coupled to low-torque, high-speed generators located in the nacelle of the StingRAY. As each float rotates in response to passing waves and ocean swell, electricity is produced and sent via offshore substations to the mainland grid....

- See more at: http://renewablenow.biz/renewable-science.html#sthash.G0W3aAO9.dpuf