The SSG Wave Energy Converter: Performance, Status and Recent Developments

Abstract

Abstract:The Sea-wave Slot-cone Generator (SSG) is a Wave Energy Converter based on the wave overtopping principle; it employs several reservoirs placed on top of each other, in which the energy of incoming waves is stored as potential energy. Then, the captured water runs through turbines for electricity production. The system works under a wide spectrum of different wave conditions, giving a high overall efficiency. It can be suitable for shoreline and breakwater applications and presents particular advantages, such as sharing structure costs, availability of grid connection and recirculation of water inside the harbor, as the outlet of the turbines is on the rear part of the system. Recently, plans for the SSG pilot installations are in progress at the Svaaheia site (Norway), the port of Hanstholm (Denmark) and the port of Garibaldi (Oregon, USA). In the last-mentioned two projects, the Sea-wave Slot-cone Generator technology is integrated into the outer harbor breakwater and jetty reconstruction projects. In the last years extensive studies have been performed on the hydraulic and the structural response of this converter, with the aim of optimizing the design process. The investigations have been conducted by physical model tests and numerical simulations and many results have been published on both conference proceedings and journals. The main scope of this paper is reviewing the most significant findings, to provide the reader with an organic overview on the present status of knowledge. T m = time domain mean wave period (s). T p = peak wave period (s). WAB = Wave Activated Bodies. WEC = Wave Energy Converter. Greek Letters:α r = front ramp angle on the horizontal (deg.). α eq. = equivalent front angle for reflection analysis. α incl = mean front slope in the run-up area. Δ = duration of a sea-state (s or hr.).

Hydraulic Performance of an Innovative Breakwater for Overtopping Wave Energy Conversion

“…Following the concept of the integration of WECs in a breakwater and starting from previous works on WEC systems, such as Wave Dragon [14] and the Sea-wave Slot-cone Generator [15][16][17][18][19][20][21], an innovative built integrated device called OBREC (Overtopping BReakwater for Energy Conversion [8]) has been operating since January 2016 (Figure 1a,b) [22].…”

The Use of CFD in the Analysis of Wave Loadings Acting on Seawave Slot-Cone Generators

“…Patented by WavEnergy SAS (Stavanger, Norway), this OTD includes a number of reservoirs placed on the top of each-other, which capture the water during the up-rush phase; on its way back to the sea, the fluid passes through a low-head turbine, spinning it and producing electricity [12][13][14].…”

Evaluation of Various Technologies for Wave Energy Conversion in the Portuguese Nearshore

“…These are Aqua Buoy [22], Pelamis [23], Wave Dragon [24], Oyster [25], and SSG, Seawave Slot-Cone Generator, [26]. From the point of view of their operability, they cover the full scale of the existent types of energy converters.…”