Buoy to Measure Wave Energy
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Business
Swansea Scientists Have Launched a Research Buoy to Measure the Strength of Waves four Miles off St Govans Head in Pembrokeshire
Swansea scientists have launched a research buoy to measure the strength of waves four miles off St Govans Head in Pembrokeshire.
The Directional Waverider buoy will measure wave height and direction in an initial year-long project to work out how much energy is stored in the waves off Wales. Data collected will be used to inform decisions about whether it is feasible to convert this energy into renewable electrical power, via off-shore arrays.
Throughout the project duration, the public can also view the live buoy data online, through the Cefas WaveNet website.
The team, part of the Wales-wide Low Carbon Research Institute (LCRI) Marine, deployed the buoy from Swansea University's research vessel RV Noctiluca, which is usually moored in the city. LCRI Marine is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, through the Welsh Government.
Principal investigator for LCRI Marine Dr Ian Masters, who is based at Swansea's College of Engineering, said: "The marine energy industry in Wales is really starting to take off. This research buoy will allow us to refine our oceanographic models of the area, to inform where the best sites are that can be used by technology to harness our wave energy resource.
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