The Carbon Trust has identified the Anaconda wave energy device as
having the potential to provide a step change in the cost of wave energy
hits the front end of a tube, a bulge forms Early results are promising. The Carbon nuclear energy is currently delivering,” he The Carbon Trust’s Delay adds, “We are
inside, which races down its length just ahead Trust has identified the Anaconda device as says. As fossil fuels continue to deplete, leading the world in the development of
of the wave. having the potential to provide a step change global energy demands surge and pressure marine energy and the UK is a hotbed of
As the bulge reaches the far end of the in the cost of wave energy. mounts from all quarters to reduce carbon innovation for these key technologies. We
tube, it hits a series of turbines that capture As well as being cost-effective, Anaconda emissions, the case for marine power can have the potential to deliver up to 20 per cent
the energy and convert it to electricity. is durable enough to withstand the harsh only get stronger in the future. of the UK’s electricity needs from marine
The process, says Rainey, is similar to maritime environment. “A rubber tube is energy and there are already a number of
the way the pulse moves in your arm. much more likely to survive than other Back to its roots exciting technologies in development.”
“your heart beats and the pressure pulse technologies,” says Professor Farley. “It’s With all of this potential, how likely is it that “Were the UK to make full use of this
travels down to your wrist, but it does totally flexible, so waves won’t break it.” the UK will be ready, willing and able to take potential, the economic returns could be
so much more slowly than the speed of More testing with scaled up versions advantage? Quite good, according to the considerable,” points out Professor Farley.
a sound wave in blood,” he says. of the technology will now follow, he adds: recent Carbon Trust report. “The UK’s Atlantic coastline, for example,
“This is because the elasticity of the “If that goes well, we’ll be able to build Future Marine Energy found that including Ireland, could produce around
artery wall slows the pulse down. Similarly, a full-scale prototype – possibly next year. “the UK is well placed to leverage its skills 50GW of electricity at peak generation.”
Anaconda slows the speed of the sound We’re optimistic about the future.” and experience in offshore oil and gas, ship- Should that potential be realised, it
wave in water right down to the speed of the Conducting thorough trials is key, says building and power generation to accelerate could go a long way in helping to address
46 water wave outside. This makes for a light, Kermode at the EMEC. “We need to get progress in the marine renewables sector and the dual challenges of climate change and
maintenance-free wave power machine.” equipment into the water to find out what capture the economic value for the UK.” energy security in the future.
works, what doesn’t and which technologies
Put to the test are the most effective.” Rather than focus on
Rainey and co-inventor Professor Farley have specific types of technology, these trials
teamed up with Avon Fabrications, a major should directly compare prototypes. “We
rubber component manufacturer, to build need multiple machines in the water, in
prototypes of the machine. multiple locations,” he says.
Meanwhile, professors John Chapin Following further trials, Kermode expects
and Grant Hearn at Southampton University utility companies to commercially deploy the
have been awarded a three-year grant by technology and start pumping wave and tidal
the Engineering and Physical Sciences power into the National Grid.
Research Council to test Anaconda’s theory “Marine power generation in the UK
and practice. should be at least comparable to what
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