An agreement to test Ocean Power Technologies’ (OPT) wave energy device, the PowerBuoy has recently been signed. The testing will be conducted at the Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre.

Wave Energy Generated by the PowerBuoyThe PowerBuoy is a 150kW ocean-going buoy that converts wave energy to electricity and it is hoped that the PB150 prototype will be ready for deployoment in 2009, feeding into the National Grid via a sub-sea cable linked to EMEC’s onshore power distribution centre at Billia Croo.

According to the OPT website, the PowerBuoy works through the rising and falling of the waves off shore causing the buoy to move freely up and down. The resultant mechanical stroking is converted via a sophisticated power take-off to drive an electrical generator. The generated power is transmitted ashore via an underwater power cable.

The potential of the technology to produce vast quantities of electricity is illustrated by the assertion that a 10-Megawatt OPT power station would occupy only approximately 30 acres (0.125 square kilometers) of ocean space.

This is yet another step towards realising the apparent endless potential of wave energy and the ability to harvest the clean energy from the world’s oceans.

OPT has further plans in place following the upcoming tests with projects currently under development in Spain, Australia, England, France and the USA.