US invests in NZ green energy technology

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has, through North West Energy Innovations based in Oregon, invested US$2m in a wave energy project using technology developed by IRL in New Zealand.

Wave Energy Technology NZ (a collaboration between IRL and Power Projects Ltd and supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and EECA) has, over the past three years, proved the operating concept by trialling a one-fifth-size wave electrical generation device anchored off Taylor's Mistake in Christchurch. The device was recently upgraded to a quarter-size machine and operated successfully for 90 days, generating electricity with no downtime.

"The technology is different from other wave energy converters in that the machine is anchored to the sea floor and recognises water movement, which, through the use of onboard hydraulics, converts water energy into electricity," says IRL Deputy CEO Drew Stein.

"We are working directly and closely with North West Energy Innovations in Portland and the DOE as this project progresses. Our research program involves building a half-size device which is being manufactured by Stark Brothers in Christchurch.

"This machine, when completed in June and after testing off Akaroa, will be relocated and anchored to the sea floor off Moa Point in Wellington. IRL will ship another set of control and hydraulic components to the USA where they will be installed in a half-size device built to IRL's design, which will be anchored to the sea bed off the Oregon coast," he says.

"We anticipate that once these devices have proven themselves under the strict USA Department of Energy review processes then licences for the wave energy converter will be signed. Future sales are predicted to be worth hundreds of million of dollars to the New Zealand economy.

"The wave energy converter technology is protected by international patent applications including an application in the United States. A patent has already been granted in New Zealand and IRL is anticipating all design, control and hydraulic components will be manufactured by New Zealand companies and exported around the world.

"Demand for clean, green energy has never been more economically important nor in more demand and therefore there is a ready-made market for this type of electricity generating device," says Stein.