A wave energy converter promising reliable power generation from the ocean waves has now reached the phase where a 42 meter long pre-commercial demonstration unit to be tested at sea can be designed and built.

Specialist marine engineers at Gifford are providing structural engineering advice to Offshore Wave Energy Limited (OWEL) for its floating device that aims to take advantage of the high energy density of deep water ocean waves.

The project is to build a marine demonstrator to be tested at the Wave Hub off the north coast of Cornwall. Eventually, a platform made up of adjacent ducts moored to the seabed and open to incoming waves at one end is planned.

The waves repeatedly compress air trapped within the ducts which is directed to drive turbines that will generate electricity. The demonstrator has a target rating of 500kW of electricity although a similar commercial machine deployed in the open seas will have a rating of 1MW.

The advantage of the design is its simplicity and robustness, using tried and tested components and production methods. It has few moving parts, none of which are in the water, so it will be highly reliable.

IT Power, a leading international sustainable energy consultancy, is directing the project.