Biopower Systems Collaborates on Wave Energy Project
Australia’s ocean energy company, BioPower Systems, have announced their collaboration with the city of San Francisco to investigate the generation of wave energy from the Pacific Ocean. Under the agreement, BioPower will work with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to assess the feasibility of a project located 8km off San Francisco’s western beaches with a generating capacity of 10–100MW.
The proposed Oceanside Wave Energy Project would consider installation of a wave farm using BioPower's modular wave energy system, bioWAVE.
The bioWAVE system is designed to supply utility-scale grid-connected renewable energy while being out of view, and without affecting marine life. The unique system sways with the forces of the ocean and naturally streamlines when extreme conditions prevail, leading to cost-competitive lightweight designs. Multiple bioWAVE devices, each with a capacity of 1MW, are installed as an undersea wave energy farm. The combined power output is supplied to the land grid via a subsea cable.
John Doyle, acting Manager of Infrastructure at the SFPUC, said that the project has the potential to add yet another source of renewable energy to the city's power network. "The feasibility of ocean waves as an energy source is being considered and this could lead to further project development". Pending the results of a feasibility study, BioPower and the City of San Francisco will work together to develop the project aimed at supplying clean renewable electricity to the city's power grid by 2012.
