Irish wave energy developer OceanEnergy has signed up with the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland to demonstrate its OE35 floating wave energy converter. The device will be demonstrated at EMEC's Billia Croo wave energy test site for two winter periods starting in 2024.
"The signing of the berth agreement with EMEC is an important milestone in this exciting project. We have been working closely with EMEC and the other project partners to reach this key stage. The project is a continuation of the commercialisation of the technology which will become a key component in the suite of renewable energies to develop a sustainable green energy future," said Prof Tony Lewis, Chief Technical Officer at OceanEnergy. "The demonstration will provide key metrics and operational experience for the commercial deployment of the OE technology.”
The OE35 device operates by floating on the ocean's surface, with waves causing a water column to rise and fall within the device, creating pressurized air to rotate a turbine and generate electricity. EMEC will provide technical inspection, environmental monitoring, and performance assessment services to ensure that the device meets reliability, survivability, and performance targets and adheres to IEC international standards.
The demonstration project is supported by the WEDUSEA project, co-funded by the EU Horizon Europe Programme and Innovate UK. The project partners are working closely together to design the device and plan offshore operations.
“We’re working closely with the OceanEnergy team on the design for the OE35 device, in preparation for their demonstration programme at EMEC. We have provided metocean, bathymetry and geophysical data to feed into the design criteria and are facilitating planning of offshore operations,” explained Carly Tait, Project Manager at EMEC for WEDUSEA. "During the demonstration of the OE35, EMEC will collect valuable data on the performance of the device. This data will provide OceanEnergy with third party assurance on the power performance of the device, which will be shared with investors and funders to increase their confidence in the technology and enable progression towards commercialisation. Environmental data will also be captured, building on existing environmental studies, to provide regulators with improved understanding and reduced uncertainty around environmental impacts of wave energy.”
The OE35, image courtesy of OceanEnergy
