Scotland makes some waves

Aquamarine Power has installed its first wave energy converter in the harsh waters of the North Atlantic. IfandP takes a closer look.

One of the less impressive facts regarding the UK is that it possesses the largest wind and tidal resource in Europe, but currently ranks towards the bottom in terms of the energy it generates from renewable sources. One company, however, is looking to make a difference. Aquamarine Power, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, has spent the past six years working on a device that holds the promise of reliably harnessing the power of the waves in a cost-competitive and efficient manner.

Witnessing the birth of an industry – the build-up to deployment

The Oyster® device was manufactured at the former oil fabrication yard at Nigg by engineers Isleburn, relying on first-class welders to fabricate a demonstrator device hardy enough to withstand some of the most powerful seas in the world. Successful onshore testing at NaREC was completed in the spring of 2009 and proved that Oyster® can deliver electricity on a commercial scale. The output from a single pumping cylinder delivered over 170kW of electricity indicating that a full-scale device with two pumping cylinders can deliver well in excess of the modelled output of 350kW.

Making this happen involved an array of companies and partners, including Frazer Nash, who designed the test rig and Howco Group, who built it. The test rig was driven by a hydraulic power pack hired from Pelamis Wave Power and NaREC who hosted the test.

A date with the seabed

The first stage of the deployment of the Oyster® began in late-May 2009 and involved transporting the pile connector frame (PCF – the base of the device) and the oscillator flap to the EMEC and fixing the PCF to the sea bed. Once this and the subsequent installation of the oscillator flap had been completed, the primary task became the connection of the necessary sub-sea pipelines to the Oyster®, allowing sea trials to commence.