Seawave Slot-Cone Generator: an innovative caisson breakwaters for energy production

This paper discusses a new type of Wave Energy Converter (WEC) named Seawave Slot-Cone Generator (SSG). The SSG is a WEC of the overtopping type. The structure consists of a number of reservoirs one on the top of each others above the mean water level in which the water of incoming waves is stored temporary. Using this method practically all waves, regardless of size and speed are captured for energy production. In each reservoir, expressively designed low head hydro-turbines are converting the potential energy of the stored water into electrical power. A key to success for the SSG will be low cost of the structure. The wave forces on the main structure can be estimated using experiences from coastal protection structures, but the differences between the structures are so large that more reliable knowledge on the wave forces is desired. The purpose of the work is to derive information on wave loadings acting on sloping walls constituting the structure. The research is intended to be of direct use to engineers analyzing design and stability of this peculiar kind of coastal structure.