The Orion Energy Centre (OEC) has completed a scale model wave tank testing project for US-based wave technology developer Resolute Marine Energy (RME).
Located in Inverness, Scotland, the facility carried out motion, load and pressure measurement tests on RME’s new submerged flap wave energy converter in one of its first commercial projects.
RME CEO Bill Staby said the experienced team at OEC responded quickly to our needs and provided the company with valuable advice and support during our three-week test run.
"The data we have collected will be extremely useful as we continue to improve the design of our wave energy converter," Staby said.
Ken Tease of Orion Energy Centre said wave energy is starting to take off in Scotland but someone has yet to come up with a very effective, internationally scalable solution.
"The first person to do that will have made a major break-though and it’s exciting to think that, with the expertise and facilities we have here at the Centre, we could be a part of the revelation."
RME has been developing wave energy converters since 2007 and the device tested by OEC is designed to operate in near shore waves as opposed to in the deep sea.
The OEC’s wave test facilities were acquired from Voith Hydro in 2013.