Wave Energy: Oscillating Water Column (OWC) Breakwater
The Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute is working on a breakwater project that is based on the idea that when new coastal protection infrastructure, such as a breakwater, is built, as sea levels rise, it presents an opportunity to integrate wave energy conversion (WEC) technology into such structures. Our focus is on a “curtain pile” breakwater, which allows exchange of water from the sea to the harbor side (healthier for the environment than a typical breakwater) and incorporates modular chambers outfitted with air turbines – a series of oscillating water columns (OWC) WECs.