UK developer signs deal for 4.5MW wave farm in Portugal
Thursday 21 May 2009
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| The 1.5MW Orecon wave device is set to be deployed off the coast of Portugal |
Cornish marine energy company Orecon has agreed a deal to deploy 4.5MW of wave power in Portugal, it was announced yesterday.
The company has agreed the deal with Portuguese developer Eneólica to deploy three 1.5MW Orecon wave devices off the Iberian coastline.
The two companies are to establish joint venture company to build and deploy the device, which is a multi-resonant chamber (MRC) buoy.
The site will be connected to the Portuguese electricity grid and deliver power for up to 1500 homes.
When the first unit has been connected, two further MRCs will be added to the site, increasing the power output to 4.5MW which the firm said will make it the "world's largest operating wave farm to date".
Together, the three devices will provide power for nearly 5000 homes.
Orecon said yesterday that the partners intend to develop further multi-megawatt sites in Portugal over the next 10 years.
David Crisp, Orecon's chief executive, said: "We are delighted to be working with such an experienced and forward thinking farm developer like Eneólica and are confident that the partnership can deliver a commercially successful project."
Partnership
Eneólica is a Portuguese developer that describes its main focus as "the production of electricity from renewable energy sources including wind, wave, solar, biomass and hydro power."
Chief executive of Eneólica, Agostinho Ribeiro, said: "We are very happy to be able to work with Orecon in the development of this project, given the great potential of the technology and also the high competence and experience of Orecon´s team, which is one of the most important assets for the success of this project"
In April Orecon confirmed that it would be taking a berth at the Wave Hub test site in Cornwall, after an Australian firm pulled out (see this New Energy Focus story).
It will be essential for the rumoured support for marine renewables to be made a reality
And this week it announced that it would be integrating turbine technology from Texan firm Dresser-Rand into the wave device.
Orecon has now started searching for partners for the Wave Hub project, with a view to testing an array there.
Mr Crisp added: "We are excited by our berth at Wave Hub and expect to make progress there as soon as the expected Government funding is confirmed. It will also be essential for the rumoured support for marine renewables to be made a reality, at least to match that given in Scotland and Portugal".
The patented MRC uses the principle of the oscillating water column. As such, the device has no moving parts within the water.
Volumes of air are pushed and drawn through Dresser-Rand's HydroAir turbines, which are directly coupled to the electrical generators all located above the waterline.
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