Portugal plugs into wave power

Sep 23, 2008 - TheAssociated Press

Portugal has inaugurated a wave energy farm that the government claims is the world's first to provide power to a national grid.

The project uses floating tubes whose bobbing motion pumps hydraulic fluid to drive generators.

The tubes are anchored to the seabed about 3 miles (5 kilometers) off Portugal's Atlantic coast near the northern town of Povoa de Varzim.

The first three tubes are expected to produce enough power for about 1,500 homes. The project is eventually expected to supply 15,000 homes.

The technology is produced by British company Pelamis Wave Power and has been in tests since July.

Economy and Innovation Minister Manuel Pinho said at the inauguration Tuesday that renewable energy already provides around 40 percent of the country's electricity.