The M4 wave energy converter, developed by Professor Peter Stansby at The University of Manchester, has been successfully launched in Albany, Western Australia.
The device is designed to harness the power of ocean waves to generate electricity, and the project represents a significant step forward for renewable energy technology.
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The Albany M4 project, led by Professor Christophe Gaudin and Dr Hugh Wolgamot, and coordinated by Dr Wiebke Eberling of the University of Western Australia, aims to explore the potential of wave energy to support local decarbonisation efforts along Australia’s Great Southern coast.
The launch is a quarter-scale demonstration model designed specifically for this application and will absorb 1-10kW in the target sea-states. Sensors on the model will provide real-time data on energy production and performance.
The M4 project is fully open-access with all data collected during the device’s deployment being made available to scientists, developers, and the public. By making the performance data accessible to all, the project aims to drive further innovation in renewable energy.
The M4, or Moored Multi-Mode Multibody, is an innovative surface-riding wave energy converter consisting of multiple floats, connected by beams, in a 1-2-1 float arrangement for the Albany tests. The middle floats each support a hinge, and relative rotation between the bow and stern floats, due to the movement of the waves, creates power in a generator. It uses a single mooring point that allows the M4 to naturally turn and face the waves for better energy capture.
The launch, funded with $4.8 million from the WA Government and the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre, with similar in-kind contributions, also showcases the wider benefits of emerging renewable technologies, with six local contractors and manufacturers contributing to the building, assembling, deploying, and decommissioning of the device in Albany.
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Professor Peter Stansby said, “The M4 wave energy concept has been in development for over a decade, and these ocean trials represent a significant step towards full-scale megawatt systems.
“This progress has been made possible thanks to the support of many colleagues at The University of Manchester, our partners, and importantly now the University of Western Australia.”
