ocean energy

CorPower Completes Stage 3 Demonstration in Orkney

After 18 months of combined dry and ocean testing of the C3 Wave Energy Converter, CorPower and project partners have taken important steps towards proving commercial viability of wave energy. By verifying the ability to solve two major challenges for wave energy, storm survivability combined with significant power production, a major demonstration milestone has been completed. The WEC tested adds new functions to wave energy that are key to unlocking this untapped source of clean and predictable energy.
CorPower Completes Stage 3 Demonstration in Orkney
Courtesy of CorPower

The new storm protection mode makes the device largely transparent to incoming waves. In testing, it was proven effective in minimizing motion and loads, providing robust operation in storm conditions. This new function for WECs can be compared to wind turbines that pitch the blades to minimize storm loading, a function found in essentially all commercial wind turbines of today.

The WaveSpring phase control technology delivered the projected amplification of motion and power capture performance in operational sea states, enabling a threefold increase in average power capture for a given buoy size.

As part of the project, the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) issued a “Performance Statement” verifying measured performance.

Elaine Buck, Technical Director, at EMEC said, “We’re delighted with the success of the project, funded by Wave Energy Scotland. EMEC has overseen the dry and wet testing of the machine, ensuring strict quality management and quality assurance of the verification process and providing Performance Statements for both stages. We are looking forward to further supporting CorPower as they develop their next iteration WEC using the learning from the C3 tests.”

The project that was financed by Wave Energy Scotland, InnoEnergy, Swedish Energy Agency and Interreg Foresea has demonstrated technical capabilities to produce electricity at a competitive cost as volumes increase. This breakthrough in wave energy is based on 30 years of research in hydrodynamics and phase control technology, now proven in its natural environment.

Baterías con premio en la gran feria europea del almacenamiento de energía
El jurado de la feria ees (la gran feria europea de las baterías y los sistemas acumuladores de energía) ya ha seleccionado los productos y soluciones innovadoras que aspiran, como finalistas, al gran premio ees 2021. Independientemente de cuál o cuáles sean las candidaturas ganadoras, la sola inclusión en este exquisito grupo VIP constituye todo un éxito para las empresas. A continuación, los diez finalistas 2021 de los ees Award (ees es una de las cuatro ferias que integran el gran evento anual europeo del sector de la energía, The smarter E).