Wave Energy from the North Sea: Experiences from the Lysekil Research Site

TLDR

The Lysekil project is run by the Centre for Renewable Electric Energy Conversion at Uppsala University. This paper provides a status update on the development of the Swedish wave energy research area located close to Lysekil on the Swedish West coast. Since 2004, the project—authorized until 2013—has installed 10 grid‑connected wave energy converters, 30 environmental‑impact buoys, and a surveillance tower, with the converters using a linear synchronous generator on the seabed driven directly by a heaving point absorber, eliminating gearboxes or hydraulic systems. To date the research area contains one fully operational wave energy converter linked to a shore‑based measuring station, a Wave Rider™ buoy, 25 environmental‑impact buoys, and a surveillance tower, yielding a simple, robust mechanical system but a more complex electrical system.

Abstract

This paper provides a status update on the development of the Swedish wave energy research area located close to Lysekil on the Swedish West coast. The Lysekil project is run by the Centre for Renewable Electric Energy Conversion at Uppsala University. The project was started in 2004 and currently has permission to run until the end of 2013. During this time period 10 grid-connected wave energy converters, 30 buoys for studies on environmental impact, and a surveillance tower for monitoring the interaction between waves and converters will be installed and studied. To date the research area holds one complete wave energy converter connected to a measuring station on shore via a sea cable, a Wave Rider™ buoy for wave measurements, 25 buoys for studies on environmental impact, and a surveillance tower. The wave energy converter is based on a linear synchronous generator which is placed on the sea bed and driven by a heaving point absorber at the ocean surface. The converter is directly driven, i.e. it has no gearbox or other mechanical or hydraulic conversion system. This results in a simple and robust mechanical system, but also in a somewhat more complicated electrical system.