USE concludes study for Enersis

Portugal is a pioneering country in wave energy electric power generation.

The Power Systems Unit (USE) concluded a study for Enersis with the objective of identifying the most adequate point of connection to the grid for a power station that converts wave energy into electric power.

This station will have a 24 MW power, using Pelamis technology, and it will be located in the Póvoa de Varzim area, next to the Aguçadoura. The study involved impact analysis in the 60 kV system operation, north of Porto and in the National Transmission Grid for several operation scenarios.

Pelamis technology resembles an articulated sea snake that oscillates when waves move along the structure. The movement at its joints is transfered to electric power generators and the current is collected in a submarine cable and driven to a substation on the coast.

It is estimated that 1 km2 of ocean covered with Pelamis generators may deliver 30 MW, which would supply some 20,000 homes (source: http://www.oceanpd.com/default.html from where the figure was extracted).

Pereira da Silva, Ricardo Ferreira e João Peças Lopes collaborated in the project.