OPT develops Japan wave-power station

Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) has signed an exclusive agreement with Idemitsu Kosan, Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding and Japan Wind Development to develop a wave-power station in

.

OPT said that the power station is expected to provide the groundwork for a larger commercial-scale wave-power plant with a capacity of 10MW or more. The total output from the wave-power station would be sold to electric utilities and could provide power for up to 3,000 households in Japan.

The initial phase of the contract will see OPT work with the Japanese consortium to identify ideal sites for the demonstration power station based on commercial potential. The companies will then work with OPT to build up to three of its PowerBuoys – ocean-going buoys that capture and convert wave energy into electricity – for the demonstration plant.

Under the agreement, OPT will sell the equipment for the power station to the consortium. The consortium will provide manufacturing and maintenance for any subsequent power stations, while OPT will provide its PowerBuoy technology under license and sell certain subsystems of the plant to the consortium.