The inspection was carried out as part of the continued cooperation between Finnish company AW-Energy and Lloyd’s Register in order to acquire certification for the technology in the near future. It was carried out under very demanding sea conditions with significant wave heights of more than 8 metres. The aim of this specific inspection was to collect load case data on a various parts of the device, with a particular focus on the panel.
In September 2014, AW-Energy signed a Framework Agreement with Lloyd’s Register in which the certification company will review all stages of the work carried out by the WaveRoller team.
Lloyd’s Register concluding report finds that the device is in very good condition, that the panel was in original condition and no cracks or breaks were to be found. The WaveRoller is now ready for the next phase of installation and operation.
The technology is one of the most promising solutions to be developed in the emerging near-shore wave energy industry. Of the various projects being developed around the world, including in Europe, Ireland and Chile, WaveRoller is currently the front runner. Consequently, the device remains on target to meet its commercial roll-out with installation of the first device to take place in Portugal in the second half of 2015.
“All grid-connected sea trials during the past two years, with independently validated results on both performance and durability, prove the feasibility and viability of the WaveRoller technology and the nearshore wave energy solutions in general” said AW-Energy’s CEO, John Liljelund. “We feel confident to scale up the unit size.”
WaveRoller is anchored to the seabed in near-shore areas with depths of between 8 and 20 metres where it converts energy generated by the ocean waves with a hinged panel connected to the generator in a process known as the ‘surge phenomenon’.
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