The Image from Prospective Concepts Illustrates the strength to weight ratio possibilities of pressure stabilized structures. The second image is the Aerotube product. The use of materials with high strength-to-weight ratios in renewable energy designs will result in increased power with similar mass. Based on simulations, The WaveBlanket can produce some 17 MW with a single ton of material.

Log Scale

Note that where possible, these numbers reflect the powerhouse and not the electrical generator, transformer, cable etc., which are similar in most cases and irrelevant to the discussion of specific power.

The key to mass intensive problems is to use to the greatest extent the mass which already exists. In Space flight, we use the mass of other planets to provide acceleration, we use the atmosphere to provide braking, and we have plans to create energy from raw materials for the return journey. When it comes to generating energy from the sea, there are things we can do to minimize the amount of mass we are required to bring to the party.

We can't escape the fact that wave energy is a relatively slow-moving source (.25-.5 meters per second ave) compared to wind which is 10 times faster - and this dictates that the mass and force required for the same power will also be ten times higher.

Low Frequency = High Mass

A wave device, by definition and law, reacts a moving mass of water against an equal and opposite second mass. Because wave oscillations are some 500 times slower than the electrical grid - far more mass must be moved to create the same energy as a high-speed device such as a steam-turbine.

BYOM (Bring-Your-Own-Mass)

Most designs employ a BYOM approach. They Bring-Your-Own-Mass  in the form of Concrete, which like beer is cheap and practical, or something else which is very very heavy.

The Micro-Mass Approach (Vacuum as a Prime Mover)

Most vertical devices use Gravity and Buoyancy as complimentary forces, while horizontal devices employ barriers. The WaveBlanket employs two micro-mass forces--Buoyancy, which is common, and Vacuum, which is uncommon in Wave Energy. The use of Vacuum, rather than gravity as a Prime Mover allows the device to use the water itself as both the first and second mass of a reactive device.

FullWave Attenuation

A Wave, like the crank of a bicycle is circular, and wave devices, like pedaling, can only push effectively for about 90 degrees of the cycle and coast for 270 degrees. By strapping our foot to the pedal we can both push and pull with the same mass - another Micro-mass technique.

Comparisons

Some leading devices and their reaction mass

	Rising Mass	Falling Mass	KW/Ton
WaveBlanket	Water	Water	17,000
Pelamis	Steel Tube	Steel Tube
PowerBuoy	Steel	N/A	10
SeaDog	Anchor	Steel