WAVE ENERGY IN THE LANDS OF SAND

Middle East hope for wave energy
April 8, 2009 (BBC News)

"A Devon [UK] inventor is hoping to make a commercial version of his wave energy machine in the Middle East…Alvin Smith…has had some "serious interest" from a number of Gulf countries…

"The Searaser machine works by using wave energy to pump water up to container tanks and the water is then released to a hydro-electric turbine…[Its advantage] over many other wave energy machines is that there is a controllable supply."

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"Former garage mechanic Mr Smith came up with the idea after developing a number of wave energy systems…He has now patented the Searaser which he believes, with 11,000 machines, could provide enough power for UK domestic needs."

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"The system has been tested…[H]e is now negotiating a contract to construct the first Searaser system in the Middle East, although talks are an early stage and he will not reveal the names of the interested countries.

"A question remains on getting planning permission to site many containers or water towers to feed the turbines, but Mr Smith says the potential of the system outweighs planning concerns…Alvin Smith says there is an "abundance of energy" that needs to be harnessed."