USA: UMD Graduates to Raise Up to USD 2.0 Million for Wave Energy Business Startup

On Wednesday, business plans for wave energy were presented by UMD (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth) graduate students Jonathan Christie and Linnhardt Hilfer. For development of their business, they plan to raise up to USD 2.0 million, according to Brian Boyd from SouthCoastToday.

At UMass Dartmouth Woodland Commons, Hilfer and Christie introduced the public with their wave power generating system and startup company Dartmouth Energy Systems, while expecting machine’s patent to be completed.

The system would have an underwater box with blades, attached to a buoy with a chain and when a wave lifts the buoy up, the box rises and the blades spin. Energy is captured twice that way, because as the box is pulled down, the blades spin in reverse.

They also said that the proposed business plays a role in various public goals, such as reducing pollution and reviving regional industry.

Hilfer said that the wave power system wouldn’t be noticeable as wind farm is, and that wave power has certain benefits, compared to solar and wind power.

“It is continuous, whereas solar wind and power is determined by a few factors — weather patterns, the season.

“Also, the wave power system would be far less visible from land than a wind farm.

“Each wave has more energy than a barrel of oil,” Hifler said.

[mappress]

Offshore WIND staff, April 19, 2012; Image: UMD