Wave power plant © Siemens Stiftung 2018 CC BY-SA 4.0 international

Wave power plant

Image

Labeled graphic:
Cross-sectional view of a wave power plant with a Wells turbine.

English, Spanish (CREA), German
Image (84.7 kByte)
2018-07-13
A wave power plant converts the kinetic energy of the ocean waves to electric energy. A wave power plant operates, for example, according to the principle of an oscillating water column. A funnel-shaped roof covers the surface of the water. Inside, the waves rise and fall, compressing and decompressing the trapped air. The energy stored in the pressure difference is converted to electric power by a Wells turbine and generator. The special feature of a Wells turbine is that, once in motion, it maintains the same direction of rotation, no matter the direction from which the water is flowing. This is due to its completely symmetrical blade profile.
A pilot wave power plant operated by Voith Hydro Holding GmbH & Co. KG in Scotland supplies as many as 50 households with electric energy. Experts estimate the usable energy potential of wave power to be one Terawatt, which is approximately equal to the power of around 1,400 conventional power plant blocks.

Information and ideas:
What is the difference between a wave power plant and a conventional hydroelectric plant? How do the turbines used differ in terms of structure and function? What are the physical features that allow a Wells turbine to always turn in the same direction? What parts of the world offer optimum conditions for wave power plants?
Illustration
Geography; Physics; Technology
Grade 5 to 6; Grade 7 to 9; Grade 10 to 13
Middle/high school; Vocational training
Ecology; Energy; Environment (general); Environmental protection; Hydroelectric plant; Power generation; Renewable energy; Turbine; Ecology (environmental protection); Electric power generation; Energy conversion; Environment; Hydroelectric plant; Renewable energy; Turbine
Siemens Stiftung Media Portal
MediaHouse GmbH
© Siemens Stiftung 2018
Stay up-to-date!

About four times a year, we inform you about new media on this portal as well as current studies and events related to OER and STEM.

Media Portal newsletter – register now

About four times a year, we inform you about new media on this portal as well as current studies and events related to OER and STEM.

*Required fields


Language

Liebe Nutzerin, lieber Nutzer,
El Portal de Medios – das spanische Medienportal – ist umgezogen und heißt nun CREA.
Auf CREA finden Sie weiterhin hochwertige Medien für den MINT-Unterricht und vieles mehr.

Dear User,
El Portal de Medios - the Spanish Media Portal - has moved and is now called CREA.
On CREA, you will continue to find high-quality media for STEM education and much more.

Estimado usuario, estimada usuaria,
El Portal de Medios – en español – ha sido trasladado y ahora se llama CREA.
En CREA seguirá encontrando medios de alta calidad para la enseñanza de STEM, y mucho más.

Zu CREA wechseln / Switch to CREA / Cambiar a CREA
CREA - El Portal de Medios para la Enseñanza STEM

Hierbleiben / Stay here / Quédate aquí:
Fenster schließen / Close window / Cerrar ventana