Offshore staff
EDINBURGH, UK – Mocean Energy has started testing its Blue X wave energy prototype at the European Marine Energy Centre’s (EMEC) Scapa Flow test site in Orkney, Scotland.
Later this summer the 20-m (65.6-ft) long, 38-metric ton (41.88-ton) wave machine will be moved to EMEC’s grid connected wave test site at Billia Croo on the west coast of Orkney, where it will be tested in more rigorous full sea conditions.
Mocean Energy Managing Director Cameron McNatt said: “In the days and weeks ahead, we will produce first power and prove how the Blue X machine operates in a variety of sea states.
“In the Scapa testing phase, we will test power production and compare results against our numerical predictions, and we will test operations including towing, installation, removal, and access at sea. The device is standalone and operated wirelessly. A 4G connection allows us to send commands and download data from shore.”
The deployment and demonstration of the Blue X at EMEC is being funded by Wave Energy Scotland and supported by Interreg North-West Europe’s Ocean DEMO project.
The Blue X manufacture and testing program is being supported by £3.3 million ($4.7 million) from Wave Energy Scotland (WES) through its Novel Wave Energy Converter program.
AJS Production in eastern Scotland fabricated the Blue X wave machine and Montrose-based RyBay Corrosion Services painted it. The University of Edinburgh supplied its CGEN generator. Supply Design and Blackfish Engineering Design were also involved in the project.
Earlier this year, Mocean Energy announced a £1.6-million ($2.3-million) project with OGTC, Harbour Energy, EC-OG, and Modus to demonstrate the potential of the Blue X prototype to power a subsea battery and an ROV – using onshore testing at EC-OG’s Aberdeen facility.
06/14/2021
