CorPower deploy C3 Wave Energy Converter at EMEC
17.01.2018
CorPower Ocean has successfully installed the half-scale C3 Wave Energy Converter (WEC) at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland.
The C3 point absorber was installed at EMEC’s Scapa Flow scale test site in collaboration with local marine contractor Green Marine (UK) Ltd. The device was towed to site and the surface operated install sequence was successfully performed from the Green Isle multicat vessel. The C3 WEC was connected to a floating Microgrid unit provided by EMEC.
The microgrid has been designed to allow the C3 device to behave as if it were grid connected by providing a stable voltage and frequency reference, simulating the impedance of a typical grid connection, absorbing power from the device under test and providing power to auxiliary systems.
With the C3’s performance already proven in grid connected configuration during a dry testing campaign in Stockholm, this ocean deployment is looking to prove off-grid operations in an environment addressing market segments such as islands, offshore installations or remote coastal locations around the world.
CorPower’s product development follows the structured five-stage verification process of Wave Energy Scotland (WES) and ETIP Ocean involving step-wise validation of survivability, performance, reliability and economics. The Stage 3 demonstration is funded by WES, the Swedish Energy Agency and InnoEnergy, with the testing at EMEC also supported by Interreg NWE FORESEA project.
The Stage 3 program demonstration is supported by best practice from EMEC in Orkney, alongside the experience from offshore power generation company Iberdrola Engineering and EDP, the University of Edinburgh and WavEC Offshore Renewables’ expertise in cost and performance modelling.
Patrik Möller, CEO at CorPower Ocean:
“We are very pleased to have the C3 WEC installed at EMEC, marking a major milestone in our effort of providing reliable and competitive electricity generation from ocean waves. This demonstration program shows how our resonant WEC technology can significantly reduce both CAPEX and OPEX of wave energy. The compact lightweight design enables effective handling using low cost vessels, reducing operational costs. We are happy to announce a collaborative agreement with Green Marine where our teams will continue to work closely together to further improve our operations during the coming months of deployment.”
Neil Kermode, Managing Director at EMEC:
“On behalf of everyone at EMEC, I’d like to congratulate CorPower on the successful real-sea deployment of their wave energy converter. Installing technologies into the harsh marine environment is not easy, requiring a great deal of planning, ingenuity, and collaboration. But I know the learning that will come from operating the technology in the sea will be invaluable to CorPower. The EMEC team will continue to work with CorPower to support the performance assessment of their technology and we look forward to seeing this innovative device succeed.”
Jason Schofield, Managing Director at Green Marine:
“Green Marine has been working with CorPower for the past two years and to finally see all their hard work and careful planning materialise into a successful offshore installation of their device is a huge achievement for all involved. The offshore operations carried out were one of the slickest installation methods we have experienced to date, with both the CorPower and Green Marine teams working extremely well together. We look forward to continue working with the CorPower team over the coming months during their testing program as part of our framework agreement with them”
Tim Hurst, Managing Director at Wave Energy Scotland:
“Wave Energy Scotland is delighted to see one of its first programme participants install a prototype ready for at-sea testing with EMEC. We are looking forward to evaluating the test results over the coming months and seeing how the WEC performs in Orkney’s waters”