AW-Energy is taking a leap ahead of its competitors by setting up natural size, dry land testing facilities for Power Take Off Systems used in its WaveRoller wave energy converters.
A rental agreement is now signed for huge industrial premises to house these facilities in Jarvenpaa, Finland.
The testing facilities are going to be unique globally and contain an electro-hydraulic system to generate “dry” waves, i.e. giant cylinders that imitate the movement of waves to lay pressure on the PTO.
Such facilities will make it possible, in a laboratory environment, to test and adjust the PTO:s for circumstances which are identical to those in the sea. Artificial waves are created with the hydraulic pumps which are programmed according to the length and force of waves measured in the target ares.
Facilities like this on the one hand speed up research and development. On the other hand it makes it possible to factory adjust units to be delivered to a certain area.
Press Release, December 05, 2013