WAVE "SNAKE' PASSES OCEAN POWER TEST

A wave "snake" floating in the sea off the coast of Portugal has passed its first test as a new commercial energy innovation for clean power.

The British-built red "snake" wave converter is providing power for the Portuguese town of Aguadoura initially generating clean electricity for more than 1,000 family homes.

The cylindrical wave energy converters move up and down on an endless supply of waves in the open sea and convert the motion into electricity free of any greenhouse gas emissions that are blamed for more recent global warming.

Manuel Pinho, Portugal's Minister for economics told Daily Planet Media that Portugal wanted to become a leader in renewable energy and "create a lot of new jobs."

The wave machine is located three miles offshore from Aguadoura will produce 2.25MW. The innovation will be expanded with additional 25 Pelamis machines to increase the power generation up to 21MW offsetting 60,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Wave power is more predictable than wind harnessing generators. Each wave converter has four articulated sections that move up and down measuring 142 meters long with a 3.5-meter diameter made from 700 tonnes of steel.

Each wave converter is composed of four articulated sections that move up and down as the waves pass along it. Hydraulic rams at each of the hinges between the sections drive generators to produce up to 750KW of power at peak output.

Electricity generated is transported by underwater cable to a substation that is fed into the Portuguese national grid.

Portugal is also investing in 2,500 solar photovoltaic panels to build the world's largest solar farm near the eastern town of Moura, which provide electricity for 30,000 homes.

Over the past three years Portugal has trebled its hydroelectric capacity. The world's biggest wind farm is located in northern Portugal.