Wave power is clean and widely available and can be turned into electricity by a range of robust devices

Point absorber

This uses a float that bobs up and down a pole to generate electricity

Point absorber

Vertical ‘pumping’

action

Oscillating wave converter

A paddle fixed to the sea floor is pushed back and forth by waves

Oscillating

paddle

Oscillating water column

Waves cause a water column to rise and fall, pushing air up and down and driving a turbine

Trapped air rotates

a turbine

Bulge wave converter

A water-filled rubber tube moves up and down with the waves, causing pressurised water to move along the tube to a turbine

Turbine

Tether

Higher pressure bulge

travels along the tube

Point absorber

Oscillating wave converter

This uses a float that bobs up and down a pole to generate electricity

A paddle fixed to the sea floor is pushed back and forth by waves

Point absorber

Vertical ‘pumping’

action

Oscillating

paddle

Oscillating water column

Bulge wave converter

Waves cause a water column to rise and fall, pushing air up and down and driving a turbine

A water-filled rubber tube moves up and down with the waves, causing pressurised water to move along the tube to a turbine

Trapped air rotates

a turbine

Turbine

Tether

Higher pressure bulge

travels along the tube