Can the Ocean Store Our Wind Power?

Wind energy has long faced a reliability issue: it's intermittent. When the wind stops, so does the power. Hydro Wind Energy, a clean technology company with operations across London, Dubai, San Francisco, and Dublin, is developing OceanHydro, a novel system designed to address that very challenge. It pairs wind capture from airborne rotors with underwater energy storage, bringing together two elements not typically found in the same infrastructure.

How It Works

OceanHydro operates in two stages. First, a lightweight rotor or airborne kite collects wind energy at altitudes between 100 and 400 meters, where wind speeds are more consistent. The electricity generated is then used to pump seawater into subsea pressure vessels anchored to the ocean floor at depths of 100–500 meters.

Later, when energy is needed, the system releases this pressurized water to drive a turbine and regenerate electricity—creating a cycle that can be repeated multiple times a day.

Key Technical Specs

• Wind Range: Operates in wind speeds from 4 to 40 m/s

• Storage Capacity: Up to 70 kWh per cycle

• Energy Output: Between 1.6 and 13.8 MWh per day

• Cycle Time: Charging takes 1 to 68 minutes; discharging about 5 minutes

• Deployment Cost: Estimated $500,000 to $700,000 per unit

The system is modular, meaning multiple units can be deployed together to scale up power output or storage capacity.

Where It Fits

OceanHydro is designed for locations where conventional infrastructure is either absent or limited. Potential applications include:

• Island and coastal communities need off-grid clean power

• Offshore industrial operations, such as marine research or oil platforms

• Grid-level storage to stabilize renewable energy supply in coastal regions