Solar arrays on wave energy generators, along with wind turbines
Germany’s Sinn Power has developed what it calls the world’s “first floating ocean hybrid platform” by combining wave, wind and solar power.
The Gauting-based startup has secured $6.2 million from Schweizer Kapital and a German government ministry since its founding in 2014. According to a recent article in Forbes, the company hopes to offer solar panel manufacturers the chance to test PV solar arrays on a floating platform at Heraklion, off the Greek coast, as part of an off-grid energy platform.
“The floating platform can supply renewable energy to islands across the world … and contribute to the worldwide implementation of offshore wind farms,” CEO Philipp Sinn told Forbes.
The modular unit can be equipped with a 20 kW solar array and up to four small 6 kWp wind turbines. Sinn Power says it wants to provide “people living near coasts all over the world with access to clean electricity” and “turn the unlimited power of ocean waves into clean and cost-efficient energy.” It claims to operate fully functional prototypes at its research location in Heraklion and says it is “on the verge” of commercializing its technology.
Despite the potential energy held within waves and tides, the wave and tidal energy industry has been stuck in the demonstration phase for decades, as companies have been unable to overcome immense technical and financial hurdles. A renewable energy investment bubble sent capital to wave companies in the aughts, but recent funding has largely been restricted to government programs for demonstrations and tests.
Wave of bankruptcies
The wave and tidal energy market is littered with bankruptcies and retreat at companies such as Aquamarine Power, Finnevera Renewables, OceanLinx, Pelamis, WaveGen and more. The companies remaining in the market such as Verdant Power, Nova Innovation or Wave Star Energy are, at best, niche power providers for oil and gas, defense, and research. Ocean Power Technologies, the only publicly-listed wave energy firm had revenue of $0.6 million during the twelve months ended April 30, 2019.
It’s feasible that wave energy equipment can be made reliable, just as the offshore drilling industry has demonstrated with its hardware – but it’s very expensive. The sector was non-competitive 20 years ago and is even less competitive now, with the advent of cheap natural gas, offshore wind, and onshore solar.
The artist’s renderings for the platform include small wind turbines and ducted wind turbines – inefficient solutions both. As for putting roof-top solar panels and electronics on the open ocean – check your warranty and IEC 61701 salt mist corrosion testing.
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Correction: Verdant Power, contrary to our earlier reporting, is alive and well. The company received $6 million in funding in late 2018 from the U.S. Department of Energy and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for its Gen 5 turbine system. We apologize for the error.
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[…] Sinn Power, a German startup specializing in floating PV, has presented its new SKipp mobile, tiltable photovoltaic solution. […]
[…] cheap as the company suggests. While solar and wind energy are cost competitive, as Eric Wesoff at pv magazine points out, the wave and tidal energy industry has been stuck in its tracks for decades […]
[…] cheap as the company suggests. While solar and wind energy are cost competitive, as Eric Wesoff at pv magazine points out, the wave and tidal energy industry has been stuck in its tracks for decades […]
[…] cheap as the company suggests. While solar and wind energy are cost competitive, as Eric Wesoff at pv magazine points out, the wave and tidal energy industry has been stuck in its tracks for decades […]
[…] View Source […]
[…] cheap as the company suggests. While solar and wind energy are cost competitive, as Eric Wesoff at pv magazine points out, the wave and tidal energy industry has been stuck in its tracks for decades […]
[…] cheap as the company suggests. While solar and wind energy are cost competitive, as Eric Wesoff at pv magazine points out, the wave and tidal energy industry has been stuck in its tracks for decades because of […]
[…] cheap as the company suggests. While solar and wind energy are cost competitive, as Eric Wesoff at pv magazine points out, the wave and tidal energy industry has been stuck in its tracks for decades because of […]
[…] cheap as the company suggests. While solar and wind energy are cost competitive, as Eric Wesoff at pv magazine points out, the wave and tidal energy industry has been stuck in its tracks for decades because of […]
[…] cheap as the company suggests. While solar and wind energy are cost competitive, as Eric Wesoff at pv magazine points out, the wave and tidal energy industry has been stuck in its tracks for decades because of […]
[…] cheap as the company suggests. While solar and wind energy are cost competitive, as Eric Wesoff at pv magazine points out, the wave and tidal energy industry has been stuck in its tracks for decades because of […]
[…] cheap as the company suggests. While solar and wind energy are cost competitive, as Eric Wesoff at pv magazine points out, the wave and tidal energy industry has been stuck in its tracks for decades because of […]
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Hello Paul,
I am curious, i am here in Allstedt Germany . I have a 9.1 Kw array on my roof. I am still interested in putting wind generators on my roof as well. I have read that I have nowhere near the amount of wind necessary to turn a wind generator. And yet to look at the platform in this article how can you expect to get any generation at the height I see in the rendition, let alone with it being a 6 Kw generator. I get really strong wind at my location in the winter, rips the roof tiles off at times. So either something is wrong with the math formula I am offered online, or you have magic generators. I am hopeful you might sort this out being your a pro. I am still hopeful to install maybe 4 2Kw generators if i ever got a straight story
Harnessing the 24/7 energy of the waves economically remains one of the most challenging endeavors. After having spent about $4 mil with we have obtained sufficient experience to construct a 1 MW Overtopping demonstration plant, on the Southern tip of Africa.
However, a further $4 mil is required to bring this project to fruition. Investments are invited.
THE GREATER THE POTENTIAL THE GREATER THE CHALLENGE
Yes Paul. Agree. Catch is economic viable. Marine Renewables can be good Support to Base load. But still buttoned to go till Viable storage is devolped
[…] PV Magazine is skeptical. Even though there is enormous potential energy waiting to be tapped in tides and waves, the industry has been stuck in the demonstration phase for decades, it says, as companies have been unable to overcome immense technical and financial hurdles. The wave and tidal energy market is littered with bankruptcies and those remaining are niche power providers for oil and gas, defense, and research. Ocean Power Technologies, the only publicly listed wave energy company, had revenue of just $600,000 in the 12 months up to the end of April 30, 2019. […]
[…] Sinn Power是作为一家专注于漂浮式光伏的德国初创公司，它推出了新型SKipp可倾斜的移动式光伏解决方案。 […]