Portugal home to world's first wave power station

The world's first commercial-scale wave power station has been installed three miles off the coast of Portugal.

The world's first commercial-scale wave power station has been installed three miles off the coast of Portugal.

The wave power station consists of three 142-metre rods, articulated at various points throughout their body, which sit on top of the water.

As the rods, which are over three metres in diameter, are moved by the waves, hydraulic rams use the motion to drive generators to produce as much as 750KW when running in optimum conditions.

Despite being installed off the coast of Aguçadoura, near Porto, the cylinders were designed and built by Edinburgh-based company Pelamis Wave Power.

"The future of wave energy starts today," said Manuel Pinho, Portugal's minister of economy and innovation.

"Renewable energy is the source of energy for the future and we think this can create an industrial revolution and a lot of opportunities for jobs and research…and we want to be ahead of the curve."

Scotland has already done much to make itself known as the world's leading supplier of green technology through investment in wave power and wind farms.

It is hoped that, as well as the investment in nuclear energy, the British government will provide a great deal of investment for renewable energy in order to create jobs and stimulate investment.