Harnessing the Power of Sea Waves: Ghana’s Expedition With Yam Pro Energy

While solar power and wind power have been venturing into the spotlight for meeting our future energy needs, there’s a less-known but potentially significant player on the horizon – the power of sea waves. An Israeli company, Yam Pro Energy, is tapping into this power source, showing us how sea waves can generate energy without harmful impacts on aquatic life. They plan to demonstrate this through a practical experiment taking shape on the shorelines of Accra, the capital city of Ghana.

Yam Pro Energy uses the energy displacement of crashing sea waves to generate hydraulic pressure, which is then converted into electricity. Speaking to CNN, the company’s CEO, Zeev Peretz, elaborated on their plans for Ghana. “We negotiated with Ghana for many years, and now we have finally succeeded. The demand for energy is massive, and I believe this project will significantly improve people’s livelihoods. The equipment, called ‘Floaters,’ will be attached to wave breakers on the coastline and will move with the rhythm of the crashing waves,” said Peretz.

Peretz emphasized the environmental-friendly aspects of their machines, asserting that they do not emit pollution. However, he also mentioned the potential drawback that the initial setup for such a green energy source might be expensive. Despite that, the company claims that once the setup is completed, the running and maintenance costs will be relatively low.

The working principle of this technology is simple and unlike other renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, sea waves are substantially predictable and reliable. Regardless of the prevailing weather conditions, the sea consistently generates waves, sometimes crucial for sea creatures. Thus, it adds credence to the viability of the project.

An added advantage that Peretz underscored was the efficiency factor. He told CNN that their technology could generate 65% of energy per year, notably more efficient than solar panels and wind turbines, which produce between 22-24%.

However, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) anticipates that the major challenge with wave power would be its ability to withstand the hostile sea environments. There have been numerous prototypes that have shown promise, but for potential investors, the fundamental concern is the machine’s performance over twenty years. Environmental activists also caution that no power project guarantees zero emission, implying an environmental impact assessment should precede wave power projects to affirm their green credentials.

As it stands, wave power might serve as a complementary source of energy. Given its high setup costs, it will be an uphill task for it to surpass other renewable energy sources. The economic burden of the setup cost might eventually be passed onto the households. Nonetheless, Ghana is aspiring to power its households with clean energy by 2050, and wave power represents 1.4 percent of the target.

The Ghana project, expected to begin in 2017, is projected to benefit 10,000 households upon completion. Yam Pro Energy has secured a power purchase agreement with the local authorities to sell electricity through the national grid.

Ghana and Nigeria are the two largest economies in the West African sub-region. While Ghana has a population of about 26 million people, Nigeria has a population of 180 million people. Ghana has a total installed power capacity of 3,644MW, while Nigeria has an installed capacity of 10,300MW. However, Nigeria requires about 160,000MW to meet its daily national electricity demands at a time of economic recession, making it challenging for the government to invest in power projects. This calls for alternative solutions and drawing from all possible electric power sources to bridge this massive shortfall.