The Wave Catcher has been designed as a slack-moored floating pontoon (platform) made of reinforced concrete, fitted with a sloped, parallel sided ramp which focuses waves in the vertical direction. The wave energy extraction will be higher (up to 30%) than in the case of a simple sloped ramp. The ramp is the main patent claim of the Wave Catcher. Waves run up the ramp and overtop into a reservior on the board of the pontoon. Water returns to the sea through low-head water turbines and generates electrical energy. Without any moving parts, the converter has low operation and maintenance costs.
Ocean waves have an apparently random nature, so most wave energy converters produce a varying power output because they convert the wave energy on a "wave by wave" basis. The Wave Catcher collects waves in the reservoir that helps to smooth the electrical energy output. The electrical energy output depends on a relatively steady water level in the reservoir which has an integral storage capacity of about 15.000 m³. The cost benefit analysis has proved that for the wave height (H) of 3,5 m and higher, the cost of 1 kWh could be less than 0,07 EUR.
The expected max.el. energy output of the converter is 5MW with the annual el. energy production of about 12 GWh.
Back to TopBack to TopBack to TopBack to TopBack to Top