While sailing near their parents's home in 2000, Neils and Keld Hansen suddenly became aware of the immense power surging beneath them. It was then that they began to develop the concept of harnessing the power of the waves and converting it into energy.
Using what they knew about wind turbines, they invented a machine with buoys—which are attached to a platform secured to the ocean floor—that rise and fall with the motion of the waves. Via hydraulics, the up and down motion is transferred to a generator, producing electricity. Despite the fact that waves rise and fall periodically, the machine is able to produce energy continuously due to the number of buoys rising and falling with the water.
Check out the video below to see the machine for yourself.
For more information about Wavestar, visit the website here.
(Source: Wavestar)
