Riding the waves

Wave energy specialist

has secured a deal with

to provide the next generation of its energy wave converter.

The deal forms part of E.ON’s renewable development portfolio in the UK, which is intended to provide power for around a million homes and displace two million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

The deal involves the installation of PWP’s next-generation wave energy converter: the 180m-long P2.

According to PWP, the original system is a semi-submerged structure made up of cylindrical sections that are linked by hinged joints. Wave-induced motion of the joints is resisted by hydraulic rams that pump high-pressure fluid through into the hydraulic motors through smoothing accumulators. The power from hydraulic motors is then converted to energy via drive electrical generators and fed through a single cable to a junction on the sea bed.

E.ON plans to acquire and trial the 750kW P2 technology at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney off the north coast of Scotland.