Wave Energy

Extracting energy from waves has been extensively researched over the last few decades. However, until recently most ideas have remained at the concept stage. Now, selected technologies have reached commercialisation. In conjunction with the National Oceanographic Centre, Southampton (NOCS) and Pelamis Wave Power Ltd (PWP) members of the Sustainable Energy Research Group contributed to the development of Pelamis, which is a leading wave power device. SERG supports Pelamis development through numerical and physical modelling as well as wave energy resource assessment. (The world’s first commercial wave energy converter farm is currently being deployed in Aguçadoura, Portugal with Pelamis devices.). Furthermore, the group is undertaking exploratory development of a novel wave energy converter termed Anaconda. The Anaconda is essentially a rubber tube in the sea which is filled with water. It is closed at both ends and anchored at the head to the waves. It is squeezed or enlarged locally by pressure variations that run along its length due to the waves. Localised squeezing and enlarging effects permit energy to be extracted indirectly at a Power Take Off (PTO) point using a turbine.

News item: 5th PRIMaRE Conference 2018
14th March, 2018

The University of Southampton, represented by SERG, is a core member of PRIMaRE, a consortium of organizations with a centre of gravity in the south-west of the UK, who have an aim of fostering world-class research in all aspects of marine renewable energy and using the assets and resources in the south west of England […]

Research update: Anaconda Wave Energy Converter Concept

The Anaconda wave energy converter, which is shown as an artist’s impression in Figure 1, is a novel concept for wave energy conversion invented by Rod Rainey and Francis Farley and further developed by the licensed manufacturers Checkmate SeaEnergy Ltd. The system essentially consists of a rubber tube filled with water which is placed in the […]

Research update: Characterisation of the Wave Energy Resource at Potential Sites for Wave Energy Farms

The ability to measure accurately the wave energy resource at a given site is essential for the successful development of wave farms. The likelihood of success must be assessed before a project goes ahead. A collaborative project between the University of Southampton and Pelamis Wave Power Ltd (PWP) is currently aiming at providing a wave […]