Aberdeen, Scotland based wave energy company ZOEX Power has reported that it has generated more power than expected in its tests in the Black Sea in Turkey.
The company which received £531,000 in funding in June posted on LinkedIn: “After months of anticipation, our technology has now been deployed for testing in the Black Sea, Turkey–and the results are exceeding expectations. The test has already generated hundreds of kWh–enough to power our electric heaters in the quayside hub. Real-life energy, delivered directly from the sea.”
Wave energy has the theoretical potential to supply as much electricity as the world currently consumes. Water is 800 times denser than wind and since the ocean covers 72% of the planet, wave power is widely accessible. Wave energy is also highly reliable and predictable. Studies show that a clean energy mix including wave energy typically requires less than half the installed capacity, half the grid infrastructure, and 20–50% less storage compared to a cost-optimal system based solely on solar and wind.
The company’s technology aims to produce power for smaller operations, such as fish farms, rather than tackle commercial-scale utility wave energy. The technology comprises a rubber Yokohama fender attached to a vessel. The fenders that move up and down with the waves and their movements are captured by an Electro-Mechanical Generator (EMG).
The company acknowledged it had faced challenges with project management that resulted in key lessons including the need to make all modifications before installation “whatever the cost–it will save more later” and “accept kindness from locals–collaboration extends beyond technical work.”
“At ZOEX Power, we are proud not only of the technology but also of the learning and growth that come from every step of this journey. Together, these breakthroughs are shaping the future of clean, reliable marine energy.”
