piers

A company called Eco Wave Power has launched the first U.S. wave energy project in the Port of Los Angeles. The system captures the motion of ocean waves to generate renewable electricity.

The Eco Wave Power system harnesses hydraulic energy with floaters installed near the shore on existing structures like breakwaters, piers, and jetties. The floaters bob up and down with wave movement, which creates pressure that drives a hydraulic motor and a generator. Only the system’s floaters are actually in the water, and they aren’t connected to any electrical lines. These hydraulic cylinders then send pressurized fluid to a land-based energy conversion unit. Thus, there are no underwater transmission lines as is the case for offshore wind generation.

The hydraulic motor and generator are housed inside a standard shipping container. The electricity generated by the system is then connected to the grid. Breakwaters and piers are often owned by ports, and ports are large consumers of electricity, which means that there is likely to be an electric substation nearby.

This demonstration project has several goals. Foremost, it is a showcase for Eco Wave Power’s patented onshore wave energy technology in U.S. marine conditions. It will serve as an educational hub for potential industry partners, regulators, and potential customers. It will also support environmental monitoring and other regulatory requirements that can inform local stakeholders and authorities that will be involved in any future deployments.

Wave energy has great potential. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that wave energy has the potential to provide electricity for 130 million homes.

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Eco Wave Power launches its first U.S. wave energy project

Photo, posted October 17, 2022, courtesy of Andrew Meldrum via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

The changing Arctic climate has had a drastic effect on its seabirds. In fact, seabirds worldwide are in crisis, with global populations plummeting nearly 70% over the past 70 years as a result of climate change, over-fishing, habitat loss, and other human impacts on their environment.

Above the Arctic circle in Norway, seabird behavior has changed dramatically. Black-legged kittiwakes – which are the most seafaring member of the gull family – used to nest in cliffs over the ocean and seldom ventured inland. But in recent years, that has changed. Because of a warming ocean, increased storminess and other changes that are decimating chick populations in their normal habitat, the birds have been setting up housekeeping in places like shopping centers and office buildings in Tromsø and other towns along Norway’s north coast.

Tromsø, Hammerfest and other towns at the very north end of Norway have become very popular with tourists seeking the Northern Lights and wanting to see glaciers before they disappear. The booming tourism has been put on hold for the moment as it has elsewhere, but when it returns, the regions growing hotels and shopping areas are facing a problem.

The birds taking up residence on these buildings are unpleasant neighbors. They are especially noisy during the breeding season and people are having to put up nets or spikes on buildings to discourage the kittiwakes from settling there.

Local ecologists are now building boutique hotels just for kittiwakes. Using abandoned buildings on piers, they are adding ledges for nesting, materials for nest-building, and electronic speakers that croon kittiwake songs. The hope is that the birds will stay in their own hotels and leave the other ones for the human tourists.

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Norwegians are building boutique hotels for threatened Arctic birds

Photo, posted April 14, 2018, courtesy of Charlie Jackson via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Wave energy in the U.S.

A company called Eco Wave Power has launched the first U.S. wave energy project in the Port of Los Angeles. The system captures the motion of ocean waves to generate renewable electricity.

Web Links

Boutique Hotels For Birds | Earth Wise

The changing Arctic climate has had a drastic effect on its seabirds. In fact, seabirds worldwide are in crisis, with global populations plummeting nearly 70% over the past 70 years as a result of climate change, over-fishing, habitat loss, and other human impacts on their environment.

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