Israel Launches Wave Energy Platform

There is no doubt there is massive energy in the oceans. To tap it, an Israeli firm has launched a wave energy platform that may become the wave of the future on two fronts.

What is the number one problem we face as a species? Well, most would argue energy problems, but some might admittedly say climate change. The truth of the matter is there is another area that nobody really talks about, but they should. We have a huge water problem. Water covers the majority of the planet, but the problem is it almost entirely salt water that we can't exactly drink. Of all the water in the world, only three percent is fresh water and usable. That's it. Well, one Israeli firm may have come up with an interesting system that might be part of both the water and energy solution.


Seanergy has developed a device that captures wave energy for the purpose of powering desalination plants. The device is a 66 foot tube that sits vertically with a buoy inside. When waves go buy, the water level goes up and shoots the buoy up the tube. The pressure is such that the moving buoy can generate enough upward force to generate sufficient energy to run a small desalination effort.

The Seanergy platform sounds great, but it has some inherent problems. First, it costs about $125,000 to build one. Second, the energy produced is not all that large, which makes the return on investment very low. Both of these are problematic since it is clear that you would need bundles of these devices in areas to really make a difference. Putting up one or two simply isn't going to make a difference.



Okay, so why even mention this then? Why write an article? Well, the Seanergy product is incredibly important because it is one of the few devices that have actually moved from the drawing board to the ocean. While there are tons of problems with the device, it represents a starting point. The Port of Hafia in Israel is so excited about the possibilities that it is planning on using the device to power the cranes in its port. Regardless of whether this is a good move, the product represents a starting point that firms can use to improve.

Will wave energy every be the ultimate answer to our energy needs? No. It can, however, play a big part in supplying the energy and desalination needs of coastal cities. Since vast numbers of humans live on the coasts of the world, that is something significant.

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