This is Cool: The First Commercial Wave Project

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The world's first commercial wave energy project is now delivering 2.25MW off the north Portugal coast. Ocean Power Delivery (OPD) has supplied the first three Pelamis P-750 "advanced wave energy conversion technology" machines, with another 28 machines being planned along the Portugal coast within a year. They will generate 22.5MW for state-run power company Energias de Portugal.

The order for the initial phase is worth €8.2m, funded by a Portuguese consortium led by Enersis. The project brings power ashore at Agucadoura, and will supply 1,500 homes using the national state run electricity grid system. When complete, the project should meet the average electricity demand of more than 15,000 Portuguese households. It should also displace above 60,000 carbon dioxide emissions tons per year.

The Pelamis has a similar output to a modern wind turbine. Future 'wave farm' projects are likely to consist of multiple interlinked machines connected to the shore by a single subsea cable. A typical 30MW installation would occupy a square kilometre of ocean.