Spring Break
Drafting current on ocean waves
Each unit can generate enough energy to power ten standard homes
Anneke Tucker
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: News
The world has been searching for a hero for the clean energy crisis, and now the savior may have been found in the ocean's waves.
The engineers of Columbia Power Technologies, located at Oregon State, believe wave energy could be the answer to the world's looming clean energy problem. They have created a mechanism that harnesses the energy in waves, using what they call "direct drive technology": the simplification of a mechanism used to accomplish their task.
They recently released their first prototype, the eleventh for the university, on the waves. The results were positive: they had produced 10 kilowatts, about enough energy to power 10 American homes.
But this is not the end of the developmental stage.
"It was relatively low power, sufficient for a remote weather station out in the middle of the ocean," said Al Schacher, a research and development engineer and OSU alumnus who works for Columbia Power Technologies.
"To be marketable, we are looking at producing 100 to 1,000 times more power."
The history behind the young Corvallis-based company started in 2005, and their wave technology research lies behind the work of Professor Dr. Annette Von Jouanne and Asst. Professor Dr. Ted Brekken.
In collaboration with both the students of the Energy Systems Group and the engineers at Columbia Power Technologies, they were able to continue a dream of the former Alan Wallace, former professor and program director, who was as Schacher describes a "pioneer of ocean wave energy."
When not developing cutting-edge technology, Columbia Power Technologies is very involved on campus and within the community.
"We sponsor six students in their graduate work, MECOP, and two professor positions within the university," said Joe Prudell, also a research and development engineer for Columbia Power Technologies.
"We want to focus on the fact that we are Oregon-based, support local economy, and stimulate economic growth throughout the state."
Columbia Power Technologies plans on continuing research and development of the energy converter, and hopes to have their prototype ready for the market in three to five years.
The company is funded through different government grants and independent investors, but also on the local level, especially in the manufacture stage.
"Plasti-Fab of Tualatin has been a huge supporter for the last two years, donating time and resources, as well as a constant support for OSU," Prudell said.
With the growing dependence on foreign oil, the drive for research and development pushes the engineers even harder.
"If tests are successful, we can develop and contribute significantly to a clean, renewable, and self sufficient source of energy," Schacher added.
The engineers of Columbia Power Technologies, located at Oregon State, believe wave energy could be the answer to the world's looming clean energy problem. They have created a mechanism that harnesses the energy in waves, using what they call "direct drive technology": the simplification of a mechanism used to accomplish their task.
They recently released their first prototype, the eleventh for the university, on the waves. The results were positive: they had produced 10 kilowatts, about enough energy to power 10 American homes.
But this is not the end of the developmental stage.
"It was relatively low power, sufficient for a remote weather station out in the middle of the ocean," said Al Schacher, a research and development engineer and OSU alumnus who works for Columbia Power Technologies.
"To be marketable, we are looking at producing 100 to 1,000 times more power."
The history behind the young Corvallis-based company started in 2005, and their wave technology research lies behind the work of Professor Dr. Annette Von Jouanne and Asst. Professor Dr. Ted Brekken.
In collaboration with both the students of the Energy Systems Group and the engineers at Columbia Power Technologies, they were able to continue a dream of the former Alan Wallace, former professor and program director, who was as Schacher describes a "pioneer of ocean wave energy."
When not developing cutting-edge technology, Columbia Power Technologies is very involved on campus and within the community.
"We sponsor six students in their graduate work, MECOP, and two professor positions within the university," said Joe Prudell, also a research and development engineer for Columbia Power Technologies.
"We want to focus on the fact that we are Oregon-based, support local economy, and stimulate economic growth throughout the state."
Columbia Power Technologies plans on continuing research and development of the energy converter, and hopes to have their prototype ready for the market in three to five years.
The company is funded through different government grants and independent investors, but also on the local level, especially in the manufacture stage.
"Plasti-Fab of Tualatin has been a huge supporter for the last two years, donating time and resources, as well as a constant support for OSU," Prudell said.
With the growing dependence on foreign oil, the drive for research and development pushes the engineers even harder.
"If tests are successful, we can develop and contribute significantly to a clean, renewable, and self sufficient source of energy," Schacher added.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.