Funding: EPSRC, £232k, 2002–2004
Investigators: Professor A Bradshaw (PI), Professor C J Taylor, Mr M Widden
The energy in sea waves off the UK’s west coast could, if captured and converted to electricity, make a substantial contribution to the country’s international obligations on climate change. PS Frog Mk 5 offers a prospect of economic power for the UK from sea waves. Based on the original PS Frog device which was judged the most economic converter of the time in a 1992 study, the Mk 5 version of the device is expected to deliver improved performance: capturing more power, at lower cost per installed kW. It is all contained within a sealed steel hull, and will be as robust as a ship. This research programme will include tests on models in wave tanks at Lancaster and elsewhere; investigation by application of theory and computer simulation; and studies of the engineering of the device and an assessment of costs. The targets are an average of 600 kW delivered by each fullscale device, and a cost of power of 4 p/kWh or less.
