Ocean Energy Conversion and Storage Prototypes for Wave, Current and Tidal Energy Generators

Grid connection of wave energy converter in heaving mode operation by supercapacitor storage technology

“…Several international initiatives are testing these technologies around the world [8] with particular reference to the wave and tidal/current energy systems; ocean thermal energy and salinity gradient energy are still embryonic. Wave energy converters (WECs), on which the present paper is primarily focused on, have been subject of several conceptualisations, patents, studies and in‐field experimental investigations [9–12]. WECs can be classified according different criteria, such as the working principle (energy extraction principle), water depth, location (shoreline, near‐shore, offshore) and size.…”

“…Energy storage is recognised, by academics and industrial community, an enabling technology for mitigating the issue. Some recent studies [11, 16–18] specifically deal with the topic for wave, current and tidal generation systems without going deep inside architecture and control strategies to develop for accomplishing this task. Actually, the energy storage role is enhanced by the development of appropriate architecture and control strategies aimed at managing embedded sea wave generation systems with energy storage technologies.…”

Perturb and Observe Control for an Embedded Point Pivoted Absorber

“…Wave energy converters (WECs) can be classified according to different criteria such as the working principle (energy extraction principle), the water depth, the location (shoreline, near-shore, offshore), the size, and so on [9][10][11][12][13]. With respect to a working-principle based classification, three main WECs categories can be identified: oscillating water column, overtopping converters, and oscillating bodies.…”

“…The second is the grid integration of the system, an aspect complicated by the oscillating mechanical power transferred to the electric generator. A promising solution for mitigating this effect and in doing so promote the WECs' network integration is represented by energy storage systems (ESSs), able to compensate for the power fluctuations in highly variable RES [11,[20][21][22].…”