How efficient is the wave power station? How does it work?

The team led by Wang Zhonglin, a foreign academician of China Academy of Sciences, has developed a water-energy friction nano-generator, which may generate megawatt-level electric energy per square kilometer of sea surface after networking. China has a vast sea area and the seawater flows around the clock, which provides a stable working environment for the friction nano-generator. The working mode of water-energy friction nano-generator is to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy through the coupling of friction electrification and electrostatic induction, which is different from various existing power generation technologies and makes it possible to collect wave energy. If these generators are networked and placed in the ocean, the irregular movement of seawater will be converted into continuous electric energy.

The water friction nano-generator developed by using the phenomenon of triboelectrification at the solid-liquid interface can be used to collect the kinetic energy of rivers, raindrops and waves. Through the combined application of four basic modes, this generator can efficiently recover kinetic energy resources in the ocean, including water fluctuation, wave flapping, water flow and seawater. Hydro-friction nano-generator realizes solid-liquid interface friction power generation for the first time. In the past, it was generally believed that triboelectrification could only be carried out under dry conditions, and this technology also realized the simultaneous collection of water droplets and wave kinetic energy. Academician Wang Zhonglin found that the second component of Maxwell displacement current is the theoretical basis of nano-generator. Nano-generator will be another important application of Maxwell displacement current in energy and sensing after electromagnetic wave theory and technology, which may lead technological innovation and profoundly change human society.

The utilization of marine energy is the frontier direction of energy research in the world today. However, due to the high cost, small scale and poor economic benefits of ocean wave energy development, it has been hindering its large-scale commercial development and utilization. Relying on the ocean, the "blue energy" generated by wave power generation will surpass the "green energy", and the market prospect is broad.

It is also reported that Dalian Maritime University has a patent, which is also a method to prevent offshore platforms from tidal corrosion by using wave power generation. By repeatedly rubbing the nano-generator network with waves, the generator network converts ocean wave energy into alternating current energy, and after the alternating current energy is converted into direct current energy, the direct current energy is applied to the corroded metal and the counter electrode of the offshore platform. This technology can use the low-frequency mechanical energy of ocean waves to generate electric energy through the friction generator network, and provide cathodic protection power for corrosive metals on offshore platforms.