Eco Trees

Portugal has launched the first water power generator that uses only the wave motion. At a distance of five kilometers from the coasts of Portugal was installed a device named Pelamis, that floats to the surface of the sea, sending the power produced to the Agucadoura beach, at north of the Porto city .

The launching to the water was delayed by a year after it was discovered a problem at the plant's underwater connections. The plant is composed of four long sections with three power modules coupled together. While sections are involved of the wave force, these operate components of modules that function like the pistons. The force generated is enough for the generators of the modules to produce energy. The plant is anchored by sections made of foam that float to 15-20 meters below the sea surface. These were the reason for the delay of putting the generator into function.

A "farm" of 40 such generators can feed more than 20,000 households. The engineers are delighted by the project's success and two other such generators are planned to be installed soon. The three generators can feed 1,500 households, other 25 were ordered by the Portuguese authorities.

The Pelamis company wants to build similar projects for Norvergia, Spain, France, North America and Africa.