An offshore farming system comprising an elongated vertical support column floating vertically in water with a larger extension below sea surface than above the sea surface, and a rigid cage structure enclosing the elongated vertical support column in circumferential direction and arranged movable in longitudinal direction of the elongated vertical support column.

A buoy (10) comprising a central column (12), an outer frame (14) attached to the central column with buoyancy which may be provided by the outer frame and/or by attached buoyancy units (16). The central column is negatively buoyant and is normally open at one end to allow water to flow in, and create an oscillating water column caused by waves. This water column dampens the effect of wave or other forces on the buoy, thus providing a more stable foundation for a wind powered generator. A further generator may be provided to extract energy from the oscillating water column. The buoy is normally attached to an anchor by one or more tension leg tethers which maintains the buoyancy below the surface of the water which has also be found to increase stability. The anchor may be a modular gravity base anchor.

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 turbine apparatus (10) for deployment in a waterway, comprises a rotor support system (12), a rotor mechanism (14) and a power take-off device (16). The rotor support system (12) is operable to support and align the rotor mechanism (14) with a direction of flow of flowing water in the waterway. Deployment of the turbine apparatus (10) in flowing water generates power. The rotor support system (12) includes an elongated shaft (13), which includes a buoyancy adjusting component (17); a flexible coupling (15) at a first end; and the rotor mechanism (14) being attachable to a second free end of the elongated shaft (13). The flexible coupling (15) facilitates connection of the first end of the elongated shaft to a support structure and facilitates a substantially freely yawing connection of the axial flow turbine apparatus to a support structure located in the waterway in which the turbine apparatus is deployed. The flexible coupling (15) also controls pitching motion of the turbine apparatus (10) relative to the support structure; and in use, permits a predetermined range of yawing motion of the turbine apparatus relative to the support structure; and responds to changes in flow of the flowing water, to maintain the turbine apparatus (10) with a compliant attitude, thereby maintaining alignment of the axis of the elongated shaft and the rotor mechanism with the direction of flow. The buoyancy adjusting component (17) being operable to maintain the deployed turbine apparatus with substantially neutral buoyancy relative to the waterway in which the turbine apparatus is deployed.

Systems and methods for capturing renewable energy are disclosed herein. An example system can include a concave receptacle configured to float on top of water, a turbine positioned centrally with the concave receptacle, a buoyancy control system having a pump and one or more vessels, a controller having a processor and memory for storing instructions, the processor executing the instructions to cause the buoyancy control system to submerge the concave receptacle under the water by filling the one or more vessels with a fluid using the pump and cause the buoyancy control system to release the fluid from the one or more vessels and allow the concave receptacle to travel upwardly so that water is directed into the turbine to produce electricity.

In a general aspect, a system stores energy underwater. In sonic 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 floating mooring system for a single CycWEC applies counter forces and torques to keep a generator suitably stationary for power generation without requiring fixed attachments to the ocean floor or requiring a large frame interconnecting multiple CycWECs. The mooring system uses floats or floatation structure with differential ballasting to counter operating torque and drag plates to counter reactive forces. The floatation structures may be used to float the CycWEC for transport to a deployment location, where changing the overall ballasting of the floatation structures submerges the CycWEC to a desired depth and differential ballasting in the floatation structures counts expected operating torques.

An example system comprises an enclosure submerged in a body of water. The system also comprises an intake port disposed along a periphery of the enclosure to transport water into the enclosure. The system also includes a turbine generator disposed inside the enclosure and coupled to the intake port to receive the water entering the enclosure through the intake port. The system also comprises a water storage tank coupled to the turbine generator to receive the water flowing out of the turbine generator. The system also comprises a pump coupled to the water storage tank to pump the water out of the water storage tank. The system also comprises a controller to control flow of the water into the enclosure by operating the intake port and to control flow of the water out of the enclosure by operating the pump.

Systems and methods for capturing renewable energy are disclosed herein. An example system can include a concave receptacle configured to float on top of water, a turbine positioned centrally with the concave receptacle, a buoyancy control system having a pump and one or more vessels, a controller having a processor and memory for storing instructions, the processor executing the instructions to cause the buoyancy control system to submerge the concave receptacle under the water by filling the one or more vessels with a fluid using the pump and cause the buoyancy control system to release the fluid from the one or more vessels and allow the concave receptacle to travel upwardly so that water is directed into the turbine to produce electricity.

Disclosed herein is a power generating apparatus for extracting energy from flowing water. The apparatus comprises a buoyancy vessel, and a turbine assembly coupled to the buoyancy vessel which comprises a turbine rotor mounted to a nacelle, and a support structure. The turbine assembly is pivotally moveable between a first position and a second position. When the power generating apparatus is floating on a body of water, in the first position the nacelle is fully submerged below the water surface; and in the second position at least a part of the nacelle projects above the water surface. Movement of the turbine assembly from the first position to the second position is buoyancy assisted, for example by providing the turbine assembly with positive buoyancy or selectively increasing its buoyancy.

Movement of the turbine assembly to the second position may be desirable to reduce the draft or the drag of the power generating apparatus, for example when the power generating apparatus is being relocated, or to prevent damage during storms. In addition, when in the second position it is possible to gain access to the nacelle for maintenance or repair.