14 DAY TRIAL // Two years after Floating Power Plant, a Danish energy company, introduced the general public to its prototype Poseidon 37 power generator, Australia decides to follow in their footsteps and go double or nothing in terms of off-shore renewable energy.
Thus, a new project aims at having revolutionary power capture devices installed off the south coast of Australia. If all goes as planned, wind and wave power could be combined to produce massive amounts of green energy.
Marine Power Technologies, a company in the business of making the most of off-shore power sources, has just recently closed a deal with Wood Group Kenny, a Scottish engineering firm, the purpose of this partnership being that of coming up with the world's first hybrid wind and wave power plants.
According to earthtechling.com, these high-tech “energy islands” are basically off-shore rings, each of them coming fully equipped with six oscillating wave energy devices and several wind turbines.
As one can easily guess, the wave energy devices are to do their job below sea level, whilst the wind turbines meant to make the most out of the Australian air currents.
Representatives of Wood Group Kenny argue that one such island could provide roughly 10 megawatts of power, and if six or more rings are linked together to make up an “Energy Farm,” about 16,500 Australian households could thus have their yearly energy demands met.
Talking to members of the press, Tom Engelsman, the CEO of Marine Power Technologies (MPT), explained how “The founders, directors and board of MPT have been thoroughly impressed with Wood Group Kenny’s work to date, and look forward to bringing the “Energy Island” to market with their team.”
For the time being, efforts are made to collect data regarding the environmental and engineering issues that may arise should work begin on these innovative power plants.
As well as this, specialists are presently trying to identify the energy hot-spots of Australia's south coast.