A demonstration 1MW wave power plant has been planned for Makah Bay in Clallam County, Washington. Behind the proposal is Finavera Renewables who are currently in the process of developing 5 projects with their AquaBuOY technology.

Back in November 2006 Finavera filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to construct the offshore power plant and in December 2007, a license was issued giving the company the go-ahead.

Commencement of the project is now dependent on investor finance and a buyer for the power that will be produced. The company still has to gain the necessary environmental permits.

Should these hurdles be overcome in a timely manner, the demonstration power plant could be producing enough electricty to power 150 homes in Neah Bay each year with project completion estimated for 2011. When operational the demonstration project will have the capability of generating an average of about 1,500 megawatt hours of energy annually.

To achieve the 1MW capacity, the Makah Bay Power Plant will consist of 4 AquaBuOYs, each capable of producing up to 250kW. The buoys will also have an associated mooring/anchoring and electrical connection system. It will be connected to an underwater transmission line that would span nearly 4 miles and would connect to the power grid through a Clallam County Public Utility District line via a metal shore station 15 feet long by 15 feet wide.

Energy transfer takes place by converting the vertical component of wave kinetic energy into pressurized seawater by means of two-stroke hose pumps. Pressurized seawater is directed into a conversion system consisting of a turbine driving an electrical generator.

Following the initial hearing by FERC that granted Finavera the conditional license, the Washington State Depeartment of Natural Resources, the Makah Tribe and the Washington State Deparment of Ecology (Ecology) filed requests for rehearing of the Commission’s order.

On rehearing, Ecology argues that the CZMA and the CWA prohibit the Commission from issuing a license until Finavera has obtained a CZMA consistency concurrence and a CWA certification. As stated in the rehearing document though “it is the Commission’s view that the issuance of a conditioned license did not violate the CZMA or the CWA. As noted, the conditioned license did not authorize on-site construction or installation, and expressly stated that no such authority would be granted until Finavera obtained all necessary authorizations.” The FERC has ruled that: “Ecology’s arguments about issuing a license without the required authorizations are therefore moot.”

Finavera Renewables are currently in the process of developing 5 wave power projects:

  • Makah Bay, Washington - 1MW
  • Coos County, Oregon - 100MW Wave Park
  • Figueira da Foz, Portugal - 2MW demo plant followed by a 100MW plant
  • Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada - 5MW
  • Western Cape, South Africa - 20MW