Wave Energy

Waves are created by the wind blowing across the surface of a body of water. As this happens, surface air molecules from the wind interact with the water molecules on the surface, and the force of this interaction creates ripples; also called capillary waves. These small waves create more water surface increasing the friction between water and wind. This adds more energy, which increases the size of the waves. Winds will abate at some point but the waves generated by the wind continue across the body of water, gradually losing energy as they travel, until they break on shore or meet an obstacle of some sort.

When the waves near the coastline they start to slow down due to the frictional effects of the rising seabed, and this causes the waves to become steeper until they eventually break. Different types of wave energy converters are designed to generate power from near shore and offshore waves. Most devices have a ‘survival mode’ which allows them to change their operating parameters to minimise the loading on their structure during storm conditions.

Different geographical regions of the world naturally have differing wave regimes, but the best places are where the wind is consistent and provides continuous, sizeable waves, such as the western coast of Scotland, northern Canada, southern Africa, Australia and the north-western coasts of the USA.