From Tank to San Francisco Bay: Design and Deployment of an Oscillating Buoy Wave Energy Harvester

Abstract

As global energy demand increases, scaling renewable energy becomes more important than ever. While renewable energy forms, such as wind and solar, have room for expansion to better meet global needs, both systems are highly dependent on environmental conditions and limited by spatial factors. In contrast, the ocean waves are consistently active and full of power. Currently, wave power generation projects are showing great potential but have not yet been implemented on a wide scale. This paper builds upon two years of design experimentation on wave energy conversion. After a year of initial experimentation with multiple methods, the linear buoy device proved to be the most viable for further exploration. This paper will explore its design by utilizing the rising and falling of a buoy to move a magnet linearly through a copper coil, generating current. After experimenting with variations in wire gauge and magnet strength, the most effective design involved four coil wires in series, each connected to a separate buoy. This design was placed in both the testing tank and in the San Francisco Bay, generating power in both scenarios. When the output wave energy is analyzed according to the scale of the design, the potential uses for wave energy to power lights and security systems in waterboarding areas are significant areas of opportunity. The two-year research and development of the design offer a look into how renewable wave energy could change urban living, where energy consumption and production function in harmony with the environment, promoting sustainability and efficiency.