Catching a wave, Euro-style
![zd-defaultauthor-harry-fuller.jpg](https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/7141b714f78c8c276dba8bf35ac047b97e9d354e/2014/12/04/ee3bf37f-7b67-11e4-9a74-d4ae52e95e57/zd-defaultauthor-harry-fuller.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&frame=1&height=192&width=192)
Off the northern coast of Portugal a large wavefarm is about to be planted. Encouraged by Portugal's socialist government and installed by utility, Eneris, this offshore wavefarm will use large floating "sea snakes" which are large tubes that bob in the waves. That motion is hydraulically captured and turned into electricity. Ironically, they need calm seas in order to launch the tubes, then they need all the waves they can get. Usually that's not a problem in the North Atlantic.
The "sea snakes" are built and engineered in Scotland. They are called "Pelamis," Latin for sea snake. In keeping with their new product the manufacturer has changed its name to Pelamis Wave Power. That's their picture of the sea snakes being towed.