An integrated system of the floating wave energy converter and electrolytic hydrogen producer

The amount of energy produced now by the world community and that of energy flows caused by natural phenomena demonstrates commensurability of both power sources. Power production based on the conventional technologies is accompanied by environmental pollution, greenhouse and overheating effects resulting in biosphere degradation. It is apparent that the most intelligent solution of the problem of power production growth is the development of environmentally compatible power system using the regional renewable power resources. A system consisting of sea wave energy converter and electrolytic installation for hydrogen production is under consideration in this article. A potential candidate for wave energy conversion is an offshore Float Wave Electric Power Station (FWEPS), which is in the development stage. The second component of the system is the hydrogen producing facilities based on sea water electrolysis. Hydrogen as an ecologically safe fuel can be used in different branches of economy. The tentative studies showed that direct sea water electrolysis is technically feasible and is a perspective procedure for an environmentally-clean commercial production of hydrogen and associate products. Real performance of the system components allow to treat it as realizable. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.