{"id":27614,"date":"2024-08-22T10:55:07","date_gmt":"2024-08-22T08:55:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/?p=27614"},"modified":"2024-11-26T16:00:02","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T15:00:02","slug":"the-wave-breaker-story-an-example-of-how-green-innovation-can-be-a-solution-to-reducing-human-impact-on-the-planet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/news\/the-wave-breaker-story-an-example-of-how-green-innovation-can-be-a-solution-to-reducing-human-impact-on-the-planet\/","title":{"rendered":"The “Wave Breaker” story: an example of how \u2018green innovation\u2019 can be a solution for reducing human impact on the planet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It is estimated that by the year 2100<\/strong>, the average sea level<\/strong> along the Croatian coast will rise by between 0.32 m and 0.65 m<\/strong>, with extreme estimates reaching up to 1.1 meters<\/strong>! During storm surges\u2014a natural disaster caused by prolonged strong southerly winds (jugo) along the Adriatic and which, in combination with low air pressure, results in a rise in sea level\u2014the average sea level can rise by 0.84 m to 1.15 m, and in worst-case scenarios, from 1.4 m to 2.2 m. This is outlined in Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in the Republic of Croatia\u00a0for the period to 2040 with a view to 2070.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As our planet continues to warm up due to climate change<\/strong>, stronger winds are generated, leading to increasingly taller and more destructive waves<\/strong> on the seas and oceans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These sea waves regularly cause significant damage worldwide. They can damage buildings and coastal infrastructure, resulting in considerable economic losses. Given the expected future population growth in coastal areas, especially in low-lying and urbanized zones, strong waves pose a significant danger to human life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, large waves and rising sea levels driven by southern winds can damage valuable coastal habitats and accelerate their erosion. An example of this is the extreme weather event on the island of Mljet in 2019, which caused the fragmentation of sand dunes, making them more susceptible to erosion. Such sea level rise events can be expected in the future as a consequence of climate change and extreme weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To mitigate the destructive impact of waves on the coast, the Pokraj\u010di\u0107 family<\/strong> from Samobor has come up with a solution\u2014a green innovation called the “Wave Breaker<\/strong>“.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"razbijac_valova_more_gliser\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A green innovation with a golden shine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cWave Breaker\u201d was first introduced to the public in April 2019 in Geneva, where it won a gold medal. The medal was well-deserved, as subsequent exhibitions in San Francisco (where it was awarded the title of the world’s best innovation), Poland, Germany, and Argentina (where it also won gold medals) confirmed. Moreover, the \u201cWave Breaker\u201d was named the best technological innovation at Expo 2020 Dubai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013  We began our first serious test in March 2020 at Porto Baro\u0161 in the port of Rijeka, where it was monitored and analyzed by the Hydrographic Institute of the Republic of Croatia until September. It withstood a wave of 3.5 meters and wind speeds of 110 km\/h<\/strong>. We\u2019ve patented it in 159 countries, \u2013 said Tomislav Pokraj\u010di\u0107<\/strong>, who developed the wave breaker with his father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Unfortunately, everything came to a halt due to COVID, and in 2022, we applied for a grant for newly established companies, but we were unjustly rejected. However, we\u2019re slowly getting back on track. At the beginning of this year, we signed an EU grant agreement for projects funded by the recovery and resilience mechanism, and we\u2019re currently negotiating testing in Trogir or Savudrija, \u2013 added Pokraj\u010di\u0107, who has been ranked second among the world\u2019s top 19 innovators by the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, there\u2019s domestic interest in this invention from Ba\u0161ka and Pula, and significant foreign interest, especially from Italy, Spain, Greece, the Philippines, Indonesia, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, the USA, Canada, Australia, Georgia, and the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"razbijac_valova_more_svjetionik\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How does the \u201cWave Breaker\u201d work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cWave Breaker\u201d is made from plastic-coated PES\/PRC fabric with high tensile strength, a nets, pulleys, concrete weights, solar panels, and generators. The equipment is eco-friendly<\/strong>, and its presence in the open sea has no impact on the marine environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 To reduce the destructive power of waves on the coast, we developed the \u201cWave Breaker\u201d. It\u2019s a system made of pipes ranging from 5 to 25 meters in length with diameters of 1 to 6 meters, interconnected to the desired length to form a coastal shield that breaks the waves. A high-tensile-strength net is secured along the pipes, allowing ocean currents to flow through while breaking the waves. The net’s height is between one and five meters, depending on sea depth, and it is anchored every 5 meters with a 500 kg concrete weight. The net and weight are connected by stainless steel cables over pulleys, making the system movable and able to absorb strong wave impacts, \u2013 explained Pokraj\u010di\u0107.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s installed 200 meters from the shore, outside port exits, and it\u2019s illuminated to prevent damage to boats entering marinas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 It also collects waste from both below and above the water\u2014up to 50 kilograms per hour<\/strong>! We plan to enhance it with generators for electricity production, \u2013 noted our interviewee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 In short, the \u201cWave Breaker\u201d protects the coast from devastation, collects waste, generates energy, and serves as a lit runway for seaplane landings on the sea, \u2013 Pokraj\u010di\u0107 said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"vranjic-zeleni-telefon-sunce\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A direct positive impact on marine ecosystems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The invention aligns with the European Green Deal<\/strong>, which emphasizes ocean protection and conservation through priorities such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n