The snakes are mounted within a floating frame, fixed to the seabed via adjustable tethers which compensate for tides and wave heights. The WSN is thus kept working at optimal conditions, extracting up to 42% of available wave energy. A wave focus ramp on the seabed extracts energy from waves on either side, resulting in a 50% attenuation of wave energy within the ramp area.

Impact

• In moderate seas, a 500m WSN generates 15 Megawatts Electricity.
• There are 000’s of kilometres of coastline suitable for such development.

Practically

• Being entirely submerged it is relatively protected from the weather.
• Likewise it is not an impediment for inshore shipping.
• Building such machines would be viable for the existing offshore industry.
• The technology is easily transferable to less-developed countries.

Environmentally

• The WSN is totally wave-powered using renewable energy.
• A low-maintenance design allows for minimal upkeep cost.
• Being entirely submerged it is invisible from the land.
• It is not harmful to plants or animals.

Socially/ Politically

• Such projects could be financed by a Carbon Tax; ideally through a “World Carbon Bank”
• Governments could buy in to such schemes; it’s jobs for their industry and a way to be seen to be doing something!

Economically

• Development costs are estimated at €20 million
• A working prototype would cost approx €10 million
• India could subsequently build a full-size machine for €4 million
• It pays for itself in 10 years with electricity produced for 1 Eurocent per unit.