Green Wombat

originally uploaded by kayjay88

California utility PG&E (PCG) wants to have two 40-megawatt wave farms up and running off the state’s north coasts within a few years, according to documents it has filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC. "It is PG&E’s intention to take advantage of economies of scale and scope across the projects, with the intent to maximize the projects’ potential generation output in the shortest time possible," an utility executive wrote in a letter to FERC. The utility hopes to have the WaveConnect projects ready for full licensing within two to three years. Other details on WaveConnect: The Mendocino County wave farm will be located off Fort Bragg in open ocean a half mile to 4.5 miles offshore. A 68-square-mile area will be assessed. PG&E essentially will turn the zone into a wave-energy testing ground, spending up to $3 million to try out various technologies from up to four manufacturers. "A number of different device concepts are being pursued by independent device manufacturers, and there is no industry consensus at this time on the optimal energy conversion technology," PG&E execs wrote in an application for a preliminary permit for the project. "The initial … devices to be used will be selected from device manufacturers who have sufficiently mature technologies available for deployment." PG&E is in preliminary discussions with Ocean Power Technologies of New Jersey, the U.K’s Ocean Power Delivery and Ireland’s Finavera Renewables. While wave energy technologies vary, they essentially involve a device that floats on the ocean’s surface and that harnesses the power produced by the surf to drive a turbine that generates greenhouse gas-free electricity. PG&E will deploy multiple wave-energy devices in an array moored to the ocean’s floor and connected to the shore by a transmission cable.  The Humboldt WaveConnect project will be located between two and 10 miles off the coastal town of Eureka. The test area will be 136 square miles. Both locales have good surf. Average monthly wave height between 6 and 10 feet.