This new hybrid power plant combines waves, wind and sun

The Swedish company NoviOcean has developed a hybrid power plant that can generate energy from wind, sun and waves. It is intended to compensate for the disadvantages of renewable energies.

Renewable energies have a significant disadvantage. Because solar systems and wind turbines depend on the weather. However, the Swedish start-up NoviOcean now claims to have found a solution to this problem. The company has developed a hybrid power plant that uses three energy sources: waves, wind and sun.

The system is called “Hybrid Energy Converter” (HEC) and is intended to compensate for fluctuations in electricity production from wind and solar systems. The highlight: per unit area, the power plant generates twice as much electricity as conventional offshore wind turbines. An intelligent combination of energy sources should make this possible

Hybrid power plant combines energy from waves, wind and sun

Wave energy contributes the lion's share of 650 kilowatts. Six vertical wind generators deliver 300 kilowatts and solar panels provide another 50 kilowatts. According to the company, the hybrid power plant will permanently deliver at least 400 kilowatts of electricity. That would be enough to power around 800 households.

The power plant is 38 meters long and floats on the surface of the sea. It is firmly anchored to the seabed and moves up and down with the waves. This movement drives a generator that produces electricity. There are also wind generators and solar panels mounted on top of the power plant. The result: a constant power supply, regardless of whether it is calm or cloudy.

The first prototype is scheduled to go into operation in 2027

NoviOcean is currently testing smaller HEC models off Stockholm. A full-size prototype is expected to be ready for use by 2027. The company has big plans. The hybrid power plant is to be integrated into existing offshore wind farms in the medium term. In this way, NoviOcean wants to make better use of the area used.

A first test run is planned at the Skjoldhammer wind farm in Sweden. There, 15 of these hybrid power plants could generate up to 25 megawatts of electricity. The hybrid systems would not disrupt the operation of the existing wind turbines because they are significantly lower.

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