Seabased wave energy provides all the benefits of wave power and more. It uses point absorber technology and a linear generator to capture the energy passing through the waves.
Advantages to the Seabased wave-to-grid solution include:
1. Seabased wave energy is gentle on the ocean ecosystem
Seabased’s system was designed to provide utility-scale power without harming the ocean or the creatures that live in it. There are no blades. There are no oils to leak. The level of electromagnetic signal coming from the technology is the same as that of standard subsea cables that carry internet signals around the world. These have been shown not to harm sea creatures. In fact, in some places, sea creatures move into the wave energy parks, which are protected from boats, so the wave park becomes an artificial reef and breeding ground.
When the park’s useful life is over, all components can be removed, leaving nothing behind.
2. Seabased wave energy parks are designed to be environmentally friendly
In addition to being gentle on the ocean ecosystem, our devices are designed to keep our CO2 footprint low.
Most of the materials we use are either recycled—as with recycled steel—and/or recyclable as with concrete.
We use ferrite magnets that don’t contain rare earth elements.
The buoys and bases can be made on site, reducing shipping.
The WECS are modular and components are small enough to be shipped on a regular cargo vessel, not requiring a special trip which consumes more fuel.
Most components can be installed with smaller vessels that require less fuel.
3. Seabased wave energy parks are designed to be affordable
Seabased’s team knows that a key to effecting the renewable energy transition is making clean energy economically competitive with fossil fuels. Consequently, we’ve designed our system for value all along the supply chain to provide seamless, wave-to-grid power, without add-on costs.
Most of our parts are off-the-shelf, rather than custom-made, reducing costs.
The park components are modular and small enough to be containerized as part of the cargo of a normal freighter rather than having to be specially transported.
The installation can be done in a few days, with relatively small vessels that require less fuel.
Wave parks can scale as needed from 2 megawatts to hundreds.
The technology has a design life of at least 20 years in the ocean with minimal maintenance; but where maintenance or replacement is required, it should be easy to do with local boats.
4. Seabased’s technology is almost invisible from the shore
Coastal areas often pride themselves on their sea views. In fact, sea views significantly contribute to real estate value for homes and resorts. So it’s important that a power technology doesn’t destroy those sea views. Seabased’s technology, which is generally about 2-8km from shore, is entirely underwater except for the buoys. So it creates a lot of power without blocking the view.
5. Seabased’s design protects the technology
Most of the turbulence of the water is on the surface. The deeper you go, the calmer the water is. That’s why Seabased puts its technology on the sea floor where it is safe from storm waves and boats, so that a community’s investment and power generation system is protected. The only part that’s exposed to the waves is the buoy which is just recycled steel.
6. Seabased is way ahead of the curve
Seabased has already tested its equipment at full scale under numerous conditions in seas from the Nordics to Ghana. We have optimized the technology to work in places with 1-3 meters waves, so that they can produce power 24/7, in normal conditions and don’t require an intense wave climate.
Seabased has been refining and testing its technology for nearly 20 years. It has also tested the technology’s impact on ocean ecosystems. And it has developed a project pipeline, working with governments around the world on permitting, collaboration with other stakeholders such as fishing communities, and development of economic models to iron out the complexities that come with installing a utility-scale power park.
We knew wave energy would one day take its place among the renewable solutions, but accelerating climate change and energy insecurity have made implementation of this solution urgent. Fortunately, Seabased is ready to meet the need and help usher this new, powerful, reliable source of electricity into the market.