A unique wave energy converter was made to resemble a “flying saucer” (photo)

CETO, a fully subsea wave energy converter (WEC) from Australia’s Carnegie Clean Energy, will be used to harvest kinetic energy from waves. The publication Interestingengineering.com spoke about the new product.

Converters like CETO are usually designed to resemble a large onion or snake and sit on the surface of the water. However, the device discussed in this material looks more like a UFO. Its flat design makes it easy to install and does not harm underwater life. It is equipped with a floating drive that produces carbon-free electricity from the motion of the waves. The prototype was developed at the Biscay Offshore Energy Platform (BiMEP, Spain) and is expected to be operational in 2025.

Carnegie Clean Energy is committed to demonstrating that its wave energy conversion technology is on par with solar and wind energy devices used around the world today. The company has contacted Lloyd’s Register to evaluate the CETO converter. A panel of six experts will evaluate new aspects of the CETO design and present results that will show whether the new product can achieve IECRE certification.

Wave energy converters are not located on the shore, but in the open sea or ocean. The fact is that waves reach the shore, weakening. Separate parts of the structure of such devices swing relative to each other as the waves pass. There are also hinged structures that allow one part to rise and fall following the wave, while the other remains stationary. This displacement of the converter elements provides pumping of air or water through turbines connected to electric generators. Thanks to this, the kinetic energy of the waves is converted into mechanical and electrical energy.

We previously wrote that scientists made a major breakthrough by finding an efficient method to produce hydrogen fuel. Researchers used artificial intelligence to make green energy even more accessible.