SDE Sea Wave
SDE Sea Wave is a type of renewable energy power plant technology utilizing sea wave energy for the production of electricity.
The SDE Sea Wave technology was developed by the Israeli company S.D.E. Energy LTD from 1996 to 2014.[1] The technology was invented by Shmuel Ovadia, but he initially struggled to secure investment to commercialise the technology.[2]
Technology
The system consists of horizontal buoys, with one end attached to a breakwater or another sea-based structure. These buoys move vertically in response to sea waves, creating mechanical motion that presses on a hydraulic liquid. The hydraulic system then converts this energy into circular motion, driving an electricity generator to produce power. The innovation lies in the system's self-correcting mechanism, which allows the buoys to flip over in large waves and wait for calmer conditions to reset, enhancing durability. Only 10% of the system's components are submerged, reducing exposure to corrosive sea water.[3]
Development and Projects
S.D.E. Energy LTD built and tested twelve different models of its wave energy system.[1] A notable full-scale model was deployed in 2010 at Jaffa Port near Tel Aviv, producing 40 kWh of electricity over a period of two years.[4]
In March 2010, S.D.E. Energy LTD announced plans to build a 250 kW model in the port of Jaffa and to develop a 100 MW power plant in locations such as the islands of Kosrae, Micronesia, and Zanzibar.
By 2012, the company was building the second of three projects in China, a 150 kW device in Dongping, Ruyuan County, with the third expected to be rated at 500 kW. Cooperation agreements were also in place to develop 100 MW of wave power in India.[5] Plans were also announced to build SDE power plants in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands.[6] There is no record of any of these plans being constructed.
Acquisition
By 2014, the technology rights, patents and projects had been acquired by the Chinese Blackbird International Corporation subsidiary Wave Electricity Renewable Power Ocean (WERPO).[7]
However, in 2016 WERPO sold the technology rights to the Israeli renewable energy developer Shahar Energy.[8]
References
- ^ a b Visser, Anne (2012-08-20). "SDE Sells USD 1.2 Million Wave Power Plants to China". Offshore Wind. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ Wolfson, Rebecca (2007-04-18). "Catching a wave". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ Ser, Sam. "Making Waves," Jerusalem Post, retrieved April 18, 2008.
- ^ "SDE has Finalized the Construction of the First Sea Wave Power Plant in Jaffa Port, Israel".
- ^ Visser, Anne (2012-09-25). "SDE to Power India with Wave Energy". Offshore Wind. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ "SDE to Build Sea Wave Energy Plants in Ecuador". Offshore Energy. 2012-06-18. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ Visser, Anne (2014-11-20). "WERPO Continues Wave Energy Development in China". Offshore Wind. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ "Israelis snap up Blackbird's wave". ReNEWS.biz. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 2024-09-07.