Wave Power Still Not on the U.S. Horizon

(MoneyWatch)  Wave energy power hold promise as a new, renewable energy source. Nonetheless, moving beyond proof-of-concept in varied prototypes to full-scale commercial introduction is stilling running into roadblocks. The Aguçadora Wave Park, a commercial wave farm off the coast of Portugal, scheduled to be brought online in 2007, is but one of many examples where delays continue (for undisclosed reasons).

On December 18, 2007, Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced its support for plans to buy energy from the first commercial wave power plant, set 2.5 miles of the coast near Humboldt County, located in Northern California. The plan, to be designed and built by Canadian company, Finavera, will consist of eight floating "AquaBuOYs," with each generating electricity as it rises and falls with the waves.

The significance of this power purchase agreement -- when announced -- did not go unnoticed by clean energy advocates, for it was the first wave power project to win support from an electrical utility in the United States. The project is expected to begin delivering renewable, clean electricity in 2012, generating a maximum of 2 megawatts of electricity. Each megawatt can power about 750 homes.

Despite the fanfare, do not expect this wave farm to be plugged into the electric grid by 2012.

A key challenge remains in moving aqua-boy technology beyond proof-of-concept to commercial viability. In November 2007, Finavera's prototype AquaBuOY 2.0 sank off the Oregon coast, for reasons still yet to be disclosed. In addition, before Finavera can begin construction of the Humboldt wave farm, it and PG&E must spend the next two to three years vetting the permitting process, the overall project design, and detailed specifications to local, state, and federal regulators and community stakeholders, including fishermen, recreational boaters and environmental groups to understand the sitting, safety and environmental impacts of the wave energy plant. The licensing process will include all required environmental studies such as impacts on local fish habitat, marine mammal migration routes, and commercial and recreational fishing zones. Installation of the Humboldt wave farm will probably not even have begun by 2012.