Giant Pelamis system is a device developed by Scottish company Pelamis Wave Power, which uses wave power to generate electricity.
Pelamis machine is made up of connected sections which flex and bend when waves run along its structure. Its structure is comprised of hinged cylinder-shaped sections, with measures of 120 m long and 3.5m in diameter and float semi-submerged on the surface of ocean.
When waves roll in, structure flexes and guide fluid into high pressure accumulators, then the fluid is used to drive electricity generating turbines. Higher waves will generate more electricity.
Pelamis placed its machines in the Aguçadoura Wave Farm, the world’s first wave farm which is located 3 miles offshore near Póvoa de Varzim north of Porto in Portugal and estimate to have a peak capacity of 2,25MW. The wave farm will power more than 1,500 Portuguese homes.
By a simple calculation this wave farm will save about 2,000tones of carbon dioxide yearly that would be emitted by a regular gas power station.
