Small Wave Energy Power Plants Could Be Wave Energy’s Path Forward
Anyone who looks out at the ocean may feel awed by the power apparent in every wave. That power has the potential to provide energy to land-based homes and businesses, as well as floating facilities and vessels at sea. But how can we transform the ocean’s energy into usable forms, such as electricity or desalinated water?
One way to harness the ocean’s energy is through a device called a wave energy converter, or WEC. To date, WEC designs have been generally centered on large, rigid bodies that float in the water and move relative to each other as waves roll past. These bodies typically absorb ocean wave energy and focus that energy into a centralized conversion mechanism, such as a rotary generator or hydraulic piston.
Now, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is exploring ways to significantly advance wave energy converter design and development. With funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Water Power Technologies Office, NREL researchers are developing concepts in which many small energy converters can be aggregated to create a single structure. With this new approach to developing wave energy, the domain of distributed embedded energy converter technologies (DEEC-Tec) could help the promise of substantial renewable energy generation from ocean waves become a reality.
Figure 1. Stretched and deformed sample volume of a flexWEC’s structure illustrating the basic use of distributed embedded energy converters (DEECs) to create power from wave energy. The sample volume has two sections where material is removed to clarify their respective arrangements: (1) the middle section has the supporting compliant material framework removed, and (2) the right section has both the supporting compliant framework and the DEECs removed. The illustration showcases how the combined semicontinuous nature of DEEC technologies supports the development of materials and structures for ocean wave energy harvesting and conversion devices.
Why Distribute and Embed Multiple Energy Converters?
One of the most innovative elements of DEEC-Tec is its ability to create flexible ocean wave energy converters, sometimes known as flexWECs. These devices have inherently broad-banded ocean wave energy absorption and conversion characteristics, meaning they can harvest energy across a wide range of ocean wave heights and frequencies.
DEEC-Tec provides a new scope of possibilities for how ocean wave energy can be harvested and converted and how flexWEC designs could power a variety of end uses both on land (powering homes and businesses) and at sea (powering navigation buoys and marine vehicles). Some of these uses will support DOE’s Powering the Blue Economy™ initiative, which aims to advance marine renewable energy technologies, such as navigation buoys or autonomous underwater vehicles, to promote economic growth in industries such as aquaculture.
“Our goal with DEEC-Tec is to vastly broaden how we currently conceptualize and envision the use of ocean wave energy,” said NREL researcher Blake Boren, who has been studying wave energy converters for over 10 years. “There is a tremendous range of possibilities for how we can develop these DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converters, and we are accelerating that exploration process.”
Figure 2. Three possible flexWEC archetypes showcasing the nondeformed and dynamically deformed states of DEEC-Tec-based flexWEC structures. The yellow flexible bodies in each archetype represent the DEEC-based, compliant structures illustrated in Figure 1. (Note: Nothing is to scale; flexWEC archetype figures and scenes are solely illustrative.)
How DEEC-Tec Moves Wave Energy Forward
DEEC-Tec concepts are assembled from many small energy converters that, together, form a structure that can undulate like a snake, stretch and bend like a sheet of fabric, or expand and contract like a balloon. As the overall structure bends, twists, and/or changes shape as the ocean waves roll past, each embedded energy converter can turn a portion of that ocean wave energy into electricity.
A flexWEC has several advantages:
- A broader spectrum of energy capture. With a wide range of movement and deformations available, DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converters absorb and convert ocean wave energy across a much broader range of wave conditions — both in terms of size and frequency — when compared with rigid-body converters.
- Mechanical redundancy. The ability to use many hundreds or thousands of distributed embedded energy converters can ensure that ocean energy conversion occurs even if one or more of those converters stops functioning.
- Resilience. The DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converter’s flexibility grants an inherent survival mechanism: the ability to ride out and absorb excessive, dangerous surges of energy from large storms and rough seas.
- Favorable materials. DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converters could be manufactured from recycled materials or simple polymers. These replace heavier, sometimes more expensive materials that have historically been used for wave energy converter development, such as steel or rare-earth elements needed for large permanent magnets. Moreover, existing mass-manufacturing techniques could be used for straightforward and cost-effective DEEC-Tec component fabrication.
- Easier installation. DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converters can be folded, deflated, or otherwise made compact for transport from a manufacturer to a deployment site. Likewise, for installation, they can be expanded to cover broad surface areas as needed. This would allow for robust energy capture with lower capital costs.
- Reduced maintenance schedules. Monitoring the relative performance of many small devices determines the need for DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converter maintenance throughout the structure. The inherent redundancy of the structure potentially translates to less frequent inspections and maintenance requirements.
- Near-continuous structural control. A DEEC-Tec-based wave energy converter is composed of numerous small transducers — mechanisms that convert one form of energy into another. Some of these can serve as simple electrical actuators, which can change the converter’s shape and movement in response to ocean wave conditions. This will allow for greater ocean wave energy harvesting and conversion control.
Bending to the Future
While there are many advantages to using DEEC-Tec in the research and development of ocean wave energy converters, there are still unknowns that need to be understood and addressed. To this end, NREL researchers are identifying the materials, structural designs, electronic systems, and manufacturing methods that could advance DEEC-Tec concepts for marine renewable energy. NREL’s work also includes DEEC-Tec subcomponent validation and codesign, computational models to simulate performance, and device proofs of concept for building and validation.
As part of this research, NREL is collaborating with outside institutions, such as the University of Colorado–Boulder, Netherlands-based energy company SBM Offshore, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories.
Learn more about NREL’s work on distributed embedded energy converter technologies.
Article and Images courtesy of the NREL, the U.S. Department of Energy.
Environment
Volvo’s new ES90 electric sedan is ‘one of the most technically advanced cars’ on the market
Volvo’s flagship electric sedan is almost here. With its debut just weeks away, Volvo previewed the new ES90, boasting it’s “one of the most technically advanced cars on the market today.” Packed with two high-tech NVIDIA computers, it will also be the most advanced Volvo car yet.
Volvo teases new ES90 EV ahead of its debut
The ES90 is Volvo’s first vehicle to feature dual NVIDIA Drive AGX Orin computers, making it the company’s most powerful in terms of computing capacity.
NVIDIA’s new in-vehicle computer platform delivers around 508 trillion operations per second (TOPS). To give you a better idea, the most powerful PlayStation (PlayStation 5 Pro) has 16.7 trillion, or around 3% of the computing power. It’s even an eightfold improvement from Volvo’s previous models.
Combined with Volvo’s Superset tech stack, the electric sedan is a “truly software-defined car,” making it more efficient and safe than ever.
Anders Bell, Volvo’s chief engineer, claimed, “The Volvo ES90 is one of the most technically advanced cars on the market today. It will also improve with regular OTA updates that are now standard on all Volvo models based on the Superset.
The new EV is loaded with an array of sensors, including a lidar, five radars, eight cameras, and twelve ultrasonic sensors, for advanced safety and driver assistance functions.
Volvo’s safety system, called “Safe Space Technology,” is designed to detect and avoid other vehicles, bystanders, and objects, even in the dark.
The ES90 is Volvo’s second EV, following the three-row EX90 SUV, built on the Superset tech stack. Volvo also plans to upgrade the EX90 with dual NVIDIA Drive AGX Orin computers as it improves the lineup. Existing EX90 customers will get an upgrade free of charge.
In the preview, you can see that the ES90’s profile resembles that of its hybrid S90 sedan. The teaser hints at a more modern design, with elements pulled from the EX90, including upright tail lights.
Volvo will unveil the ES90 on March 5, 2025. You can watch the live-stream event here. Check back for the full details.
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Tesla announced that it would finally launch wait queues at Superchargers, a feature long requested by Tesla owners after a fight broke out at a station between owners arguing about who is next to charge.
For years, Tesla owners have been asking the automaker to implement a system to queue at Supercharger stations when they are full.
It doesn’t happen often — in fact, we now learn that it happens about 1% of the time — but when it does, it can be problematic.
When a Supercharger station is full, and more Tesla drivers arrive, they generally try to form a physical queue at the station. However, the parking lot can sometimes be limited, leading to issues with people cutting ahead.
We reported that this would become a bigger problem after Elon Musk fired Tesla’s entire charging team last year. This slowed down Tesla’s Supercharger deployment, which was already expanding at a lower rate than Tesla’s fleet.
A simple solution would be for Tesla to include a system to queue through the Tesla app or in-car system for people as they arrive at the station.
This week, Tesla finally announced that it is going to pilot a virtual queue at some sites next quarter:
Virtual queuing pilots starting in Q2 at select sites. Goal is a net customer experience improvement for the ~1% cases of a wait time. Wider rollout this year if feedback is positive. We also continue to expand the network 20%+ year-over-year, closely tracking site-level demand.
What did it take for Tesla to move forward with that finally? A fight.
The above message from Tesla’s charging team about launching a queue system was in response to this video of a fight between Tesla owners at a full Supercharger station that has been going viral:
While this is the first time I have seen a video of such a fight at a Tesla Supercharger, there have been many reports of such incidents over the last few years.
It’s good to hear that Tesla is finally addressing the issue. Now, the question is: will this virtual queuing system also work with non-Tesla vehicles, which Tesla is onboarding on Tesla’s Supercharger network – contributing to the crowding issue.
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Kia just pulled the covers off its new electric van, the PV5, giving us our first look at the futuristic model. The mid-size model is the first in Kia’s upcoming lineup of purpose-built electric vans that’s expected to shake up the growing market. From the first look, the PV5 will rival the Volkswagen ID.Buzz and Ford E-Transit. Check it out below.
Here’s our first look at the Kia PV5 electric van
We first saw the PV5 concept at CES last January after Kia introduced its “game-changing” Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) platform.
The PV5 was showcased alongside the larger PV7 and smaller PV1 models. Unlike Ford’s E-Transit, Kia’s electric van rides on a dedicated EV (PBV) platform. The flexible modular architecture will underpin the entire lineup as part of Kia’s plans to secure a leadership role in the electric van market.
After teasing the production model last week, Kia unveiled the exterior design for the first time on Thursday. The PV5 will be available in several configurations, including Passenger and Cargo models.
Kia said it will introduce another model during its upcoming EV Day on February 24. As you can see, Kia went all out with this one.
Like its newest EV models, the PV5 features a bold, almost futuristic-like design. In Kia’s words, the electric van’s “contemporary design transcends traditional light commercial vehicles.”
Massive windows that span the entire Passenger model add to the modern look, but also make it easier to see when driving.
Added black geometric wheel arch claddings and rocker panels give the PV5 a slightly rugged, off-road feel, “confidently linking the high-tech upper cabin with the more rugged and purposeful lower body.”
Although the Cargo model has a similar design, the boxy profile enables more interior space for delivery and other business uses (and don’t forget the camp lifers). Kia also included twin side-opening tailgate doors, making it easier to load and unload.
Kia will reveal additional info, including powertrain specs, seating setups, and more, during its EV Day next week. The event will be held in Tarragona, Spain, on February 24. Official details will be released on February 27. Check back next week for more on the Kia PV5.
At the event, Kia will also introduce the EV4 electric sedan and hatchback models alongside a smaller, more affordable EV2 concept.
With its official debut coming up, the PV5 was spotted testing in the US this week (check them out here). Images and a video sent to Electrek by Alex Nguyen reveal a Volkswagen ID.Buzz-like design.
Kia’s PV5 Cargo Compact concept, the most basic model, is 177.2″ long, 74.8″ wide, and 74.8″ tall. However, that’s the “Compact” model. The regular Passenger and Cargo variants will be bigger. To give you a comparison, the US-spec ID.Buzz (LWB) is 195.4″ long, 78.1″ wide, and 76.2″ tall, while Ford’s E-Transit is 237.6″ long, 81.3″ wide, and 83.9″ tall.
What do you think of Kia’s mid-size electric van? Do you like the look better than the ID.Buzz or E-Transit? Let us know in the comments below.
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