TU podcast: Interview with RTS Goby  

At Energy Transition Norway, we have member companies working across the widest range of energy technologies - including wave and tidal power. Last week, we invited tech editor Jan Moberg from Norway’s largest technology magazine, Teknisk Ukeblad, back to Stavanger for five in-depth interviews with five innovative companies.

You can listen to the TU Podcast interview with Goby here (in Norwegian).

A smart buoy for remote energy needs

Freddy Knutsen, owner and business developer in Rental Technology Services AS (RTS) has developed Goby - a buoy that functions as a moving turbine in the sea.

RTS has been a pioneer in offshore technology for decades. The company has leveraged its expertise to create a wave energy buoy harnessing the abundance of waves present in the ocean, especially in Norway's coastal regions - tailored for harsh offshore applications.

The Goby buoy, standing seven meters tall, is designed to generate up to one kilowatt of electricity under optimal conditions. By traveling in a different phase from the wave motion, it captures energy as seawater is forced through its rotating blades.

While this output may not compete with large-scale wind farms, it serves a crucial role in powering remote monitoring and aquaculture installations where solar and wind energy are insufficient.

According to Knutsen, the primary goal is not to rival wind energy but to provide a reliable energy source for offshore applications. The Goby technology could be especially useful in environmental monitoring and defense applications, where surveillance above and below water requires continuous power.

First deployment: Marine research in the Hardangerfjord

The first test deployment of the Goby Wave Charger will take place in Hardangerfjord in collaboration with the Institute of Marine Research. The buoy will supply energy to oceanographic measurement equipment, reducing the need for frequent battery replacements.

Unlike past wave energy concepts that have struggled with durability, the Goby system is engineered to withstand the immense force of ocean waves.

With continued research and development, this technology has the potential to play a crucial role in offshore energy generation, enhancing both commercial and environmental monitoring capabilities.