Ocean Harvesting plans a two-year scale model testing period

Ocean Harvesting Technologies, which has worked on a new patent-pending concept with unique abilities for producing an even power level despite the constantly varying and shifting motions of the waves, is reportedly  planning a two-year scale model testing period, slated to begin in March 2009 in the coastal Blekinge region of Sweden, on the Baltic Sea.    According to the company, the shifting wave energy is accumulated in a counterweight, at the same time as the counterweight drives the generator at a limited torque.    This enables the Ocean Harvester to reach an exceptionally high Capacity Factor compared to earlier concepts, which in most cases are directly driven by the wave motion. Furthermore, the construction is simple and resource-efficient, which altogether enables very cost-efficient energy extraction.   The company expects the Ocean Harvester to enter the commercial market in 2013, reported worldchanging.com.   Mikael Sidenmark, founder of Ocean Harvesting Technologies, reportedly said, "What is unique with the Ocean Harvester is the way a counterweight is used to achieve a leveled and controlled load on the generator. As a result, excess energy from larger waves can be accumulated and used to compensate for shortage from smaller waves. In combination with the flexible mooring, this also composes a simple and efficient storm protection system. Together, these characteristics result in an exceptionally high capacity factor."