200 



been developed and to provide an analytical capability for inter- 

 preting the results of the Kaimei, the Japanese test platform. 



Continuation of this program would emphasize studies that 

 broaden the responsible range of such systems to different sea 

 conditions and thereby provide a basis for improving the total 

 power output. 



A second thrust of the U.S. program in wave energy is to assess 

 the potential of wave focusing to reduce the costs associated with 

 extraction and conversion equipment. The size of a device needed 

 to extract energy directly from an incoming wave front, plus the 

 need for the device to survive storm conditions, make such hard- 

 ware massive and therefore costly. 



An alternate approach to wave energy extraction is to concen- 

 trate the wave energy before it is converted into mechanical or 

 electrical power. If the wave energy is concentrated, then the con- 

 version hardware can be made much more compact and thus can 

 be made more inexpensively. If the concentrating structure can be 

 made relatively simple, the system should be significantly less 

 expensive than an equivalent size system without wave focusing. 



A very interesting focusing technique that is under development 

 now is the DAM-ATOLL concept. As we see in the South Pacific, 

 waves bending around small volcanic lands appear to leave the 

 island with no lee side; that is, the waves appear to come at the 

 island from all directions. This is the concept being applied in the 

 DAM-ATOLL process. 



In this case we would make relatively small dome-shaped, man- 

 made islands as you see in the chart. They would be submerged to 

 refract incoming wave fronts so that the waves are then caused to 

 approach the center of the atoll radially and appear as a concen- 

 trated energy source at the inlet guide vanes which then feed to 

 the turbine to produce electricity. This concept is being developed 

 by the Lockheed Corp. Their representative will speak to you later 

 this morning about it. 



In support of the two major thrusts discussed above, the U.S. 

 wave program is evaluating the cost effectiveness of the total 

 power delivery systems. This analysis will assess the cost of various 

 generic components as they affect total power generation costs. 



A fourth element of the program is to solicit and assist in devel- 

 oping additional wave concepts, to search out the new ideas that 

 we are sure will be forthcoming. Such a solicitation is scheduled to 

 be released by the Solar Energy Research Institute later this calen- 

 dar year. 



Several unique environmental concerns are also associated with 

 wave power and they are listed here. These concerns will be ad- 

 dressed first in a generic environmental assessment, and subse- 

 quently they will be evaluated for specific designs under develop- 

 ment before any final design or construction is approved. By the 

 end of fiscal year 1981 we anticipate achieving the following mile- 

 stones: 



First, we will complete the analysis and evaluation of the results 

 of the Japanese Kaimei test platform and determine the desirabil- 

 ity of any future international program effort. 



Second, we will experimentally evaluate the innovative air tur- 

 bine device over a range of sea conditions. 



