Video(s): Next-gen German device takes control of Greek waves

August 7, 2018

SINN Power’s wave energy modules produce power as the up and down motion of the waves lift the floating bodies of the individual modules, which in turn lift a rod that runs through a generator unit, resulting in electricity generation (Photo: SINN Power)

German developer SINN Power has been harnessing the power of waves splashing the shores of Crete with its next-generation wave energy converter modules for over a month. Take a look at the videos showcasing the devices in operation, as well as ‘the operation’ of mounting the devices to the port wall in Heraklion.

Watch the #installationof our #waveenergy converters in #Greece! ? The produced #energy is now being fed into the local off-grid, supplying energy for the operations ⚡? pic.twitter.com/9t3FWp8xwa

— SINN Power (@sinnpower) July 12, 2018

The spring 2018 saw SINN Power complete the production of the individual components – mostly in Germany – before transporting the wave energy converter modules to Greece.

More than two years developing time for mechanical and electrical components and connections payed off – the company announced – after the second generation of wave energy modules ‘worked smoothly’ to produce electricity that is usable within the own off-grid system.

Deeming the feat as both milestone and breakthrough – SINN Power said it could now provide a long-term solution for the supply of mini-grid or off-grid systems.

The team around the company’s CEO Dr.-Ing. Philipp Sinn was able to develop a second generation of modules that implements the findings obtained from the first prototype that was retrieved from the port wall late in 2016 to give room to new and improved version of the technology.

Philipp Sinn said: “A great thank you to all our team for consequent professional and hard work! What we brought to live in the last years is elsewhere done by much larger companies with a multiple of our staff and budget.”

The two modules will primarily serve to test the updated technology for its functionality. The island of Crete will welcome three more test modules on the port wall by 2019, SINN Power informed earlier.

They will test the electrical connection of several generators in practice and thus serve the further development of the technology.

The project is permanently supervised by five to seven SINN Power engineers at the project location in Greece. They monitor the mechanical loads of the revised WEC modules and evaluate the data on the generated electricity.