The PB40 PowerBuoy is part of OPT’s ongoing program with the US Navy to develop and test the Company’s PowerBuoy wave energy technology. The project began as a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program at the Office of Naval Research (ONR). Key program goals include demonstrating system reliability and survivability, and the successful interconnection with the grid serving MCBH.
The PowerBuoy was deployed on December 14, 2009 approximately three-quarters of a mile off the coast of Oahu in water depth of 100ft. To date, the PowerBuoy has operated and produced power from over 3 million power take-off cycles and 4400 hours of operation. The PowerBuoy grid interface was certified in 2007 by an independent laboratory, Intertek Testing Services, as compliant with national and international standards, including the safety standards UL1741 and IEEE1547, and also bears the ETL Listed mark.
The system has numerous on-board sensors that monitor a wide variety of system performance variables, external conditions and lifecycle parameters. Data collected by on-board computers is transmitted to a shore-based facility via a fiber optic cable embedded in the submarine power transmission cable and then transmitted via the Internet to OPT’s facility in Pennington, New Jersey. The Company’s engineers have collated much of this data and compared it to OPT’s proprietary models which analyze the performance given actual in-coming wave conditions. This information has provided a strong correlation between the ‘actual’ and ‘expected’ system performance, which serves to confirm OPT’s models for its higher output PowerBuoys, including the PB150.
The wave power project at MCBH underwent an extensive environmental assessment by an independent environmental firm in accordance with the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) that resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI is the highest rating assigned. The project has utilized local Hawaiian subcontractors, including Sea Engineering Inc. for the installation, test and servicing of the systems.
“Grid connection is another significant milestone in demonstrating the potential for commercial status of our PowerBuoy technology,” said Charles F. Dunleavy, Chief Executive Officer of OPT. “We thank the Navy and the Naval Facilities group for supporting this project as we move nearer to achieving their goals for the program. We are pleased to be a part of the renewable energy initiatives undertaken by the commander of Marine Corps Base Hawaii.”
