Abstract
Since 2008, Seabased Industry AB (SIAB) has manufactured and deployed several units of wave energy converters (WECs) of different design. The WECs are linear generators with point absorber buoy systems that are placed on the seabed, mounted on a gravitation concrete foundation. These deployments have taken place in different areas, using different deployment vessels. Offshore deployments of WECs and underwater substations have so far been complicated procedures, that were both expensive and time-consuming. The focus of this paper is to discuss these deployments in terms of economy and time efficiency, as well as safety. Because seven vessels have been used to facilitate the deployments, an evaluation on the above basis is carried out for them. The main conclusions and certain solutions are presented for the various problems encountered during these deployments and the vessel choice is discussed. It is found that the offshore deployment process can be optimized in terms of cost, time efficiency and safety with a careful vessel choice, use of the latest available technologies and detailed planning and organizing.
Highlights
Electricity from ocean energy has become increasingly popular in recent years
The wave energy conversion technology discussed in this paper is an offshore device of a point absorbing type, operating primarily in heave with a linear generator power take off (PTO)
The initial concept of the wave energy converters (WECs) has been developed at the Division of Electricity of Uppsala University (UU) [4], and now is commercialized by the Swedish spin-off company Seabased Industry AB (SIAB)1
Summary
Electricity from ocean energy has become increasingly popular in recent years. A variety of wave energy conversion technologies can be classified according to location, size/type and wave energy utilization approach/mode of operation [1,2]. The wave energy conversion technology discussed in this paper is an offshore device of a point absorbing type, operating primarily in heave with a linear generator power take off (PTO). The WEC consists of a buoy, placed on the water surface, and a generator enclosed by a water-tight pressurized hull. A stator with windings and a translator with permanent magnets constitute the two main parts of the generator. The buoy drags the translator inside the generator, and voltage is induced in the stator windings. The initial concept of the WEC has been developed at the Division of Electricity of Uppsala University (UU) [4], and now is commercialized by the Swedish spin-off company Seabased Industry AB (SIAB). UU and SIAB are collaborating in several research projects
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