News: Beaver-friendly wave technology designed to power rewilding projects
An invention to harness the ripples generated by the UK’s growing beaver population and turn them into renewable electricity is being tested in the wild for the first time this weekend.
The concept, developed by Accelar’s climate and nature gurus, is based on a small-scale version of wave energy technologies deployed as arrays floating out at sea. As beavers are extremely industrious in their dam-building work, they generate excess energy as ripples which can be captured using a similar, more sensitive device.
The new technology has been disguised as an up-ended swan in order not to scare the beavers or other wildlife. Controlled remotely, the device’s rudder is innovatively designed to replicate a swan’s foot, which helps position the devices in the optimum spot to harness the energy generated by the waves.
The electricity generated will be stored in batteries and used to power rangers’ equipment in rewilded areas. In time, it is hoped that fleets of the swan wave devices could be operated together and generate enough energy to recharge vehicles and power nearby buildings.
Weather permitting, the device will be deployed at an undisclosed rewilding site this Saturday, 1 April.
The faux-swan device being piloted
NOTES:
Accelar is a strategy and sustainability consultancy and our purpose is to accelerate the green transition. With hubs in Birmingham, Hampshire, and London, Accelar helps companies, public and third sector clients to grasp the opportunities associated with green finance and sustainable infrastructure & the built environment. For further information, please visit our services page.
Accelar hosts the Nature Finance Impact Hub which helps investors, buyers and project developers by pinpointing the financial and environmental impacts of nature positive projects. For further information see www.accelerategreenfinance.com.
For all press enquiries please contact Chris Fry via +44 7986 555168 or cfry@accelar.co.uk.