Ivanov + Partners

Genesis+ is a high-tech floating power station, placed at Cape Agulhas in South Africa, that uses locally-available renewable energy sources to generate electricity. Making use of the ample wave and solar energy of this region, the structure would utilize a combination of 10 wave power devices and a large photovoltaic power station to create approximately 100 million kWh of renewable energy each year. However, the electricity production is only one of many important features such as living space, education, resource management, energy storage, research and engineering.

Genesis+ will be placed at Cape Agulhas, the geographic southern tip of the African continent and the beginning of the dividing line between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. This floating power station will specialize in generating electricity. The global energy map shows the enormous amount of wave and solar energy concentrated in this area.

There are two main energy sources that define the structure – solar energy and wave energy. Through a series of different experiments and optimizations according its aquadynamic and aerodynamic features, the building is composed of three main structural and functional areas: photovoltaic power station, wave power station and battery station. The building is optimized to orient itself towards the best wave condition for generating a maximum amount of energy.

Large-scale photovoltaic system (PV in-roof system) is designed for the supply of merchant power into the integrated battery station. The solar power source is via photovoltaic modules that convert light directly to electricity.

The wave power station (Voith Hydro Wavegen) is based on the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) with Wells turbine power take-off. The Wells turbine is a fixed pitch machine with only one direction of rotation. Therefore, the rotor is symmetric with respect to the rotation plane.

The battery station consists of approximately 1,700 rechargeable liquid metal batteries.

Images by FlyingArchitecture