A power generator or sensor apparatus is provided. Another aspect employs a hybrid triboelectric and electromagnetic generator. In still another aspect, a power generator is used for water wave energy harvesting. A further aspect provides a power generator including an outer housing with an electrical conductor on an exterior thereof, radial overlapping electrodes located within the housing with a dielectric layer between the electrodes, a plate linearly moveable within the housing, at least one magnet affixed to the plate, and at least one spring biasing the plate within the housing. Moreover, an aspect of the present power generator includes a modularized connection configuration to linearly secure together multiples of the housing.

An apparatus that floats at the surface of a body of water over which waves pass, causing a nominally vertical axis of the apparatus to tilt away from an axis normal to the resting surface of the body of water. Tilting allows a fluid to flow through a channel that in an un-tilted apparatus would require the gravitational potential energy of the fluid to increase (i.e., to flow uphill), but, because of the tilt allows the fluid to flow through the channel in a downhill direction. Successive wave-driven tilts of the apparatus incrementally raise water to a head from which a portion of its gravitational potential energy can be converted to electrical power by causing the water to return to a lower level by flowing through a water turbine, or through some other apparatus that performs a useful function when supplied with a flow of high-pressure water.

In a general aspect, a system stores energy underwater. In some aspects, the system includes a base having a bottom side resting on an underwater floor and a top side that includes recessed surfaces. The system also includes domed walls extending from the top side of the base to form respective fluid chambers. Each of the fluid chambers includes an interior volume that is at least partially defined by one of the recessed surfaces and an interior surface of one of the domed walls. The system additionally includes a pump and a generator. The pump is configured to transport water from the fluid chambers toward an exterior environment of the system. The generator is configured to generate electrical energy in response to water flowing from the exterior environment toward the fluid chambers.

A method of controlling energy conversion and/or applied wave loads for a membrane power conversion wave energy converter (WEC) having a longitudinal axis and at least one cell having a membrane. The method includes acquiring data and determining a value relating to a local sea state at the WEC or to a WEC state of the WEC. Depending on the value determined from the acquired data, one or both of the vertical position of the at least one WEC cell relative to a free surface at still water and/or the angle of incidence of the WEC is adjusted.

A rotor blade for a rotor having a vertical rotor shaft provides stream induced driving of the rotor in a direction of driving. The rotor blade includes streaming elements that are arranged successively and at a distance in the direction of driving, wherein each streaming element includes a front edge in the direction of driving and a rear edge in the direction of driving. The rear edge and the front edge are each formed such that, when streamed against by a wind component, it transmits a driving force to the rotor in the direction of driving. Furthermore, a rotor has a rotor blade and a system includes the rotor and an electric machine.

A device for producing energy includes an air-towed vessel, and at least one water current turbine linked to the vessel by at least one electric cable. The water current turbine is linked to the vessel by at least one mechanical linking cable to be towed by the vessel. The water current turbine is spaced apart from the vessel, which makes it possible to increase the diameter of the turbine and to reduce the interactions between the turbine and the vessel. Moreover, it is then possible to provide a plurality of water current turbines towed by the same vessel.

An assembly includes a first block including a first end; and a second block assembled with the first block at a same height as the first block, the second block including a second end facing the first end of the first block. The first block and the second block are connected to the assembly such that there is no structural connection between the second end of the second block facing the first end of the first block.

A barge generator adapted to generate electrical power from surface currents of a body of water. The barge generator has a plurality of hull portions that form one or more tunnels along the length of the vessel. Hydrodynamic screws are received in the tunnels and coupled to an electrical generator such that water currents communicated through the tunnel impart rotational movement of the screw. A deployable curtain is extensible to funnel the currents towards the barge generator to increase the volume and velocity of water carried through the tunnel.

The energy transition involves the electrical power supply being almost completely covered by renewable energy sources such as solar plants or wind turbines. However, due to their naturally fluctuating output, these energy sources require the use of large energy storage systems, the realization of which still represents a major problem today. The present invention relates to supporting the construction of a large-scale pumped-storage power plant, e.g., in the Hambach open-pit mine, by enabling test operation as well as energy generation as early as during the construction phase.

A power generation device is adapted to be driven by ocean currents, and includes a craft body unit, a plurality of blade units, a plurality of power generators, and a plurality of sails. The blade units are mounted on the craft body unit, and are adapted to extend into the sea and to be driven rotatably by the ocean currents. The power generators are mounted on the craft body unit and connected respectively to the blade units for converting a kinetic energy of the blade units into electrical energy. The sails are mounted on the craft body unit for capturing the wind to maintain a location of the craft body unit against drifting from a force of the ocean currents applied to the craft body unit.