Designed to sit on the seabed, this new style of wave conversion unit will soon be helping to power the island state of Tasmania in its first Australian pilot project.
The Uniwave harnesses clean electrical energy from waves that are funnelled through its centre, mimicking the action of coastal blowholes.
Uniquely, the Uniwave operates unidirectionally and has no moving parts below the water line. Its creator, Australian company Wave Swell Energy (WSE), says its design aims to provide greater resilience, as many early-stage wave power prototypes have suffered breakdowns due to the extreme forces of the ocean.
The design is also more maintenance-friendly and removes hazards for marine life, and because it is relatively lightweight it can be re-floated and towed to different locations when required.
There are many benefits to harnessing renewable energy from waves – including the ability to provide a more consistent energy supply than some other renewable sources – and Australia’s national science research agency, the CSIRO, forecasts that wave energy could contribute up to 11 per cent of the country’s energy by 2050.