For The First Time, Waves Are Adding Power To The U.S. Grid
AzuraNorthwest Energy InnovationsAzura, a machine that turns the mothion of waves into electricity, off the coast of HawaiiThe waves of Hawaii are a big draw for tourists and surfers, but now they're also a source of electricity. For the first time in the United States, energy collected from waves is being turned into electricity that is heading onto the grid, and powering homes in Hawaii.The project involves the Azura prototype, built by Northwest Energy Innovations. Azura is a 45 ton machine that moves with the swells of the waves capturing their complex motion in 360 degrees, making it more efficient than other wave generators that only capture a particular movement in the waves (like up and down, or side to side).Video of NWEI AnimationAzura was deployed last month, and will run for a full year, monitored by many different research groups, including the University of Hawaii,...