Taming wave power using energy storage

What is it about?

In this paper we introduce a wave-to-wire model of wave energy arrays for off-grid systems using low power permanent magnet linear generators. Offshore energy storage at the DC link is added to regulate voltage, along with a current controller for the inverter in order to supply smooth power with low harmonic content to a residential load. Simulation results produced in MATLAB/Simulink environment show that the wave energy array can generate power independently from the residential side by keeping the system stable using offshore storage. In addition, two different types of controllers for wave energy devices that use permanent magnet linear generators are compared based on the power captured from the waves.

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Why is it important?

Offshore renewables and in particular wave power, are known to be intermittent and widely variable. We show that with careful sizing and control of on-board energy storage (and the system as a whole) it is possible to maintain a smooth power output and match it to the demand of an isolated load.