An Oscillating Water Column is where a large amount of moving water acts as a piston in a cylinder. The air is forced out of the column as a wave rises and new air is sucked in as the wave falls back down again. In the device, the movement of air will turn the turbine at the top of the column.

How is power generated in an oscillating water column?

5.2 Oscillating water column. The oscillating water column systems utilize wave energy to compress the air in a closed column (see Fig. 23). The compressed air is used to drive an air turbine to generate electricity [47].

What is oscillating water column technology?

Oscillating water column devices use wave action to pressurize air in a chamber, forcing it through an air turbine. ... As water recedes from the chamber, the resulting vacuum pulls air back through the turbine and into the chamber. They can be located onshore or in deeper waters offshore.