The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has signed Flemish wave energy developer Laminaria to test its innovative wave energy converter at EMEC's grid-connected wave test site at Billia Croo, off the west coast of Orkney, Scotland.
Laminaria's technology, a surge operated attenuator, has a custom storm protection system build in to enhance the survivability of the device, allowing it to remain operational during storm events.
Scale sea trials are already underway in Belgium to inform the design for the full-scale device that will undergo performance testing at EMEC in 2017.
Laminaria will be the first Belgian company to test at EMEC's test sites.
“The aim is to create a win-win situation by supplying the Scottish grid with clean reliable energy and creating employment in Flanders in the development and construction of the devices,” said Steven Nauwelaerts, Laminaria's CEO.