LOCH NESS SITING:
AWS Ocean Energy began testing a 1/9th scale prototype of its new AWS-III wave energy device in Loch Ness. The device is a ring-shaped multi-cell floating power system that, at its full 60m-diameter scale, will be capable of generating up to 2.5MW of continuous power. AWS Ocean Energy says the device addresses barriers to practical wave energy by eliminating moving mechanical parts in contact with sea water, opting instead for a system of flexible diaphragms arranged around a steel hull and incorporating air turbines. The company secured a £2.3 million investment from Scottish Enterprise's Scottish Co-investment Fund and Shell Technology Ventures, and is seeking additional funding from the Scottish government's WATERS program. After four months of testing the prototype, Ocean Energy plans to deploy a full-scale single cell machine followed by a 12-cell, 2.5MW pre-commercial demonstrator in 2012. Subject to financing and planning consents, the company plans to have a 10MW pre-commercial demonstration farm operating in 2014.
ORMONDE SAIL OUT:
A2Sea landed a contract from Vattenfall to transport 30, 5MW RePower turbines from Belfast harbour to the Ormonde offshore wind farm 10km off the coast of Barrowin- Furness in the Irish Sea. A2Sea will provide the jackup barge Sea Jack as well as logistics, planning and lift of components into place, where they will be assembled by an external crew. The Sea Jack is scheduled to be on site from March 2011. Vatenhall expects to generate power from the Ormonde wind farm in late 2011.
XAMINING RISK:
Xodus Group rolled out demos of its Xrisk management tool at the UK's All Energy 2010 conference in May. The software helps clients anticipate and avoid setbacks on renewable energy projects, from delayed consenting procedures to major production breakdowns, by mapping out likelihood, severity and costs of risk and prioritizing counter activities. Xodus alternative energy director Liz Foubister said: 'Xrisk combines a single, securely shared risk register which means managers anywhere in the world can build plans and track and manage actions in real time. The renewable sector should not underestimate the value of risk management and can make use of the lessons learned from the oil and gas industry.'
GREEN LIGHT:
Green Ocean Energy is on track to receive a statement of feasibility from DNV for its Wave Treader machine, the first step in a process that could make the device the first wave energy system to be fully certified by the independent organization. Wave Treader, made from standard marine components, comprises a fore and aft arm and sponson attached to the transition piece with an interface structure so the machine can rotate into the wave train and also move vertically allowing for tidal range. The motion of the wave strokes hydraulic cylinders which pulse hydraulic fluid. Accumulators smooth these pulses before rotating a hydraulic motor and electric generator ahead of exporting the electricity via a cable.
Construction of a full-scale prototype is expected to be complete toward the end of the summer, with testing scheduled to begin in the summer 2011. OE