A device to use ocean waves as an energy source in the Pacific Islands has been invented by staff and a student at the University of the South Pacific (USP) and was recently patented by Intellectual Property Australia.

A self-contained system the size of an average barrel, the Portable Wave-Solar Energy Harvesting Device works with the surging and heaving motion of the waves to provide electricity for lighting and other low powered equipment on a fishing boat or coastal communities.

The majority of parts for manufacturing the device are available locally.

Lecturers Dr FM Rabiul Islam and Dr Kabir Mamun along with student Shaneel Prakash from the university’s School of Engineering and Physics faculty invented the portable device as a low cost wave-solar generation concept for Pacific Island countries.

“There exists several methods of extracting energy from the ocean waves but most of them are very expensive, oversized and not portable. In this situation, this Portable Wave-Solar Energy Harvesting Device could be the solution for low cost and affordable system for Pacific Islands,” said Dr Islam.

The project, which started last year, is still ongoing with new ideas and applications with the first phase converted into a patent. A grant of F$46,000 was secured for further development of the project.

“We are expecting to introduce this device for the local community to supply their daily electrical power demand, which will in turn improve the social and economic structure of the South Pacific region,” said Dr Islam.

USP’s head of Engineering and Physics, Professor Maurizio Cirrincione, is elated with the project and the issuing of the patent.

“This level of achievement clearly indicates the originality and commercial potential of the engineering work being undertaken at USP by staff and students,” he said.

USP also received a patent earlier this year for a intelligent mobility device that helps blind and visually impaired individuals by easily identifying obstacles in the way or alerting of a change in environment e.g. a bend or change in ground level.