Sri Lanka is rich in swell-like ocean wave energy along the coasts which face the Indian Ocean. The power density is 20kW/m and the maximum wave height is below 6m, so that it is inherently suitable for utilizing the energy for commercial purposes for many needs. In order to develop such energy, we applied the latest technology on the Pendulor studied in Japan for the generation of electricity in a cost-effective manner. Since the wavelength is quite longer and the power stronger than the cases studied in Japan, the authors investigated modifying the Pendulor to make it suitable for Sri Lanka. As a commercial unit, a 250kW prototype Pendulor installed with a 21m wide caisson improved for the sites, was used in a preliminary study.
Sri Lanka is rich in swell-like ocean wave energy, along the coasts facing the Indian Ocean. The power density is 20kW/m and maximum wave height is below 6m, so that it is inherently suitable for utilizing the energy for commercial purposes for many needs. Because the Muroran Institute of Technology had developed a New Pendulor (Watabe et al, 1999) suitable for commercial use, the Institute was looking for a site to build the Pendulor. Researchers in Japan and Sri Lanka therefore started collaboration to build a wave power plant in Sri Lanka to harness the energy by applying the latest Pendulor technology. Pendulor technology. Before entering into the design work, some general investigations were studied to make the Pendulor optimal even in the various different wave climates around the world. Since the wavelength at Sri Lankan sites is much longer than the waves at the site where the Pendulor was tested in Japan, the Pendulor has been modified to fit the circumstances of Sri Lanka.
