1. Renewable Ocean Energy Small Scale Energy Devices
Produced as part of the Galway Atlantaquaria Renewable Ocean Energy Series, funded by the SFI Discover Programme 2015.
Renewable Ocean Energy Small Scale Energy Devices

2. Duck Gen As part of our Renewable Ocean Energy Project , small scale wave energy devices were produced for the renewable ocean energy display at the aquarium and in schools in the west of Ireland. The device is a point load absorber , which uses a magnet and coil of wire at its core to produce energy from the movement of the waves. See for links to the Duck Gen assembly video and lesson plan which will guide you through the construction and evaluation of this small scale renewable energy device.

3. Duck Gen: how it works Waves cause the duck to move up and down
The duck is attached to a magnet, which is in turn moved up and down through a coil of wire
This movement causes the electrons in the wire to flow in one direction, producing a current.
The electrical current produced can be displayed on a multimeter by connecting it to the two ends of wire coming off the coil.

4. Buoy Generator
A Buoy generator is a similar wave energy device to the duck gen. It also uses the motion of the waves in one part of the ocean or tank to create energy using a magnet and coil of wire.
See for the Buoy Generator lesson plan, which will guide you through the construction and evaluation of this small scale renewable energy device.

5. Buoy Gen how it works Waves cause the buoy to move up and down
The Buoy is attached to a magnet , which in turn is passed up and down through a coil of wire.
The movement causes the electrons in the wire to flow in one direction, creating a current.
The current can be displayed by connecting the two ends of wire coming off coil to a multimeter.

6. Evaluation of your devices once you have made them?
Did it Work?
How Much Electricity did it generate?
Did you make changes?

7. Design, Alterations and Improvements
Try altering the device in any way that you think might improve the device’s:
-Structure
-Performance
-Simplicity
-Bonus Creative/Innovative Concept

8. Evaluating your changes:
Did the changes improve its performance?
-Structure
-Performance
-Simplicity
-Creative Concept

9. Renewable Ocean Energy Alternative models

10. Other Models (Oscillating Bottle)
Materials
 Table tennis ball /small fan
 Plastic bottle
 Float/ foam
 Water+ container

11. Other Models (Water mill/Hydro turbine)
Materials
 2-liter plastic soda bottle
 Ruler
 Marker
 Craft knife
 Scissors
 2 corks
 1 wooden barbeque skewer
 Sewing thread (16 inches)
 Small objects to lift
 Sink
 Duct Tape
 Large Funnel

12. Links
See the Renewable ocean energy page on for videos and lesson plans on alternative ocean energy devices.