VESTMANNAEYJAR
Haf-Afl ehf intends to install and operate new wave power technology off the Westman Islands.
The ocean around Iceland is one of the most energetic waters in the world, and few coastal areas have waves as energetic as the southern coast of Iceland. The average wave power in the open sea south of Iceland is around and above 60 kW/m (kW per linear meter), but around 30 kW/m off the coast of North Iceland.
Wave energy has several advantages, including additional generation capacity in tandem with other energy sources in the form of marine multi-use. As mentioned earlier, wave energy offers a more stable and predictable energy supply than solar and wind energy, making it an attractive addition to the renewable energy portfolio. With high areal density, wave energy can coexist with offshore floating wind farms, where power arrays can be deployed in the free space between floating wind turbines. For best results, it is recommended to concentrate the deployment of arrays on a specific mission area as close to the coast as possible. This approach serves the purpose of minimizing the costs associated with subsea cables between arrays and to the connection infrastructure as well as the total distance to and from the power plant site for operation and maintenance (O&M) activities.
Wave energy plants are now rapidly developing all over the world and successful experiments show the potential of this clean and abundant source of energy. As the global push for renewable energy increases, wave energy is poised to play an increasingly important role in the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon energy system. With continued innovation and collaboration between industry, academia and government, the future of wave energy looks bright, promising a clean and sustainable energy future.
01
BASIC ASSESSMENT
Basic assessment of energy needs and demand, exploration of a possible value chain and the construction of a solid business model together with an assessment of the local industry, mapping of basic financing and the creation of a network in the Vestmannaeyjar.
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Phase completed Q4 - 2023
02
PRELIMINARY STUDY
Feasibility study, acquisition of data and permits on local wave energy and activation of a business model, funding of research with national and foreign grants.
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Plan 6 – 12 months Q2 - 2024
03
PRELIMINERY PROJECT
Project financing (with domestic and foreign grants together with basic investors) and detailed design of power plant areas, as well as securing the necessary permits.
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Plan 6 – 12 months Q1 - 2026
04
EXECUTION
Establish a local business value chain by implementing several power units in the region to provide green energy to the islanders.
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Plan 18 – 24 months Q2 - 2028
05
SCALING AND O&M
Increasing the number of wave energy plants to meet the energy needs of the Vestmannaeyja Islands. Based on local industry and value creation through the entire value chain in the Vestmannaeyjar.
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Plan 24-60 months Q1 - 2030
The Technology
Haf-Afl has entered into a collaboration agreement with the Norwegian technology company Havkraft AS, which owns the technology and is a partner of Haf-Afl, for preliminary research and technical installation of power plants. The company has invested a lot of resources in the development and installation of the technology on the West Coast of Norway, with the support of Innovation Norge and Norwegian financial institutions.
The company has also begun developing the product for Norwegian oil companies for electricity generation at their infrastructure in the North Sea.
Wave energy converter Havkraft (H-WEC), which is an innovation in the field of Oscillating Water Column (OWC) technology, is an exciting opportunity for sustainable solutions in Iceland. The certification company DNV (Det Norske Veritas) has come a long way with the certification of the technology, and large companies such as Equinor have already started developing the technology for the production of electricity at their infrastructure in the North Sea.
This technology stands out as a sustainable and renewable local energy source, characterized by short transport routes, high efficiency, longevity, minimal environmental footprint (visual pollution, noise pollution, area requirement, and irreversible natural damage), low maintenance, wildlife protection, low complexity and flexibility. The possibility of designing power plants with a lifetime of 50-100 years sets a new standard for the production of electricity.
The technology is a viable and powerful alternative to replace energy sources based on fossil fuels and increase the variety and availability of energy sources. With this, the technology marks an important step towards environmental friendliness and increased energy efficiency.
