The world’s first commercial power plant converting the energy of sea waves into electricity started working off Portugal’s coast, in a project that should be expanded nearly 10-fold over the next few years.
The “Pelamis” wave energy converters generate clean and renewable energy. They are a world first.
Three articulated steel “sea-snakes” moored to the seabed three miles off Portugal’s northern coast, each about the length of a nuclear submarine, generate a total of 2.25 megawatts, enough to supply 1,500 households with electricity. One Pelamis alone generates the equivalent of what a wind turbine was producing five years ago, i.e. around 750 KW/H. In time, there will be 25 Pelamis converters off the coast of Portugal.
Portugal currently generates almost 45% of the electricity used in the country from renewable energy sources. The aim is to hit 60% by 2020.
In the medium term, Portugal hopes to rival Denmark and Japan in the field of renewable energies.
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