The CETO is the first wave power converter to sit on the seabed and convert energy into high pressure seawater. The device therefore requires only a small diameter pipe to carry the high pressure seawater ashore to a turbine to generate electricity, rather than a sub-sea transmission network.
REH says its device has now successfully generated electricity on land and produced de-salinated water for the first time using turbines and reverse osmosis filters.
REH plans to develop a commercial CETO design by the end of 2006 with commercial units available for deployment in 2007.
Mike Proffitt, chief executive of REH, said: “The next stage is to deploy an array of the units in a medium scale trial before moving onto a commercial sized plant.”
