Arrecife Energy starts wave energy device tank trials

Bilbao-based marine energy start-up Arrecife Energy Systems has started testing the scale model of its wave energy device as part of the second phase of EuropeWave project.

Inspired by the behavior of coral reefs absorbing the energy of the breaking waves, Arrecife Energy’s device captures power from the movement of the ocean waves using cross-flow turbines located on the platform.

Following the competitive first phase of EuropeWave’s pre-commercial procurement (PCP) program, five wave energy projects have been selected to develop their concepts further in the next phase including Arrecife Energy’s Trimaran wave energy device.

The name comes from the device’s geometry, which is similar to a trimaran structure and incorporates multiple turbines and generators which are said to be able to provide constant and continuous energy delivery to the grid.

As part of the second phase of EuropeWave project, the company has started testing its 1:20 scale model at IHCantabria research center in Spain.

There, Arrecife Energy plans to carry out tests to seek improvements that would increase the efficiency of its device, with the focus on researching and increasing the shoaling effect.

Developed in partnership between Wave Energy Scotland (WES) and the Basque Energy Agency (EVE), the €20 million, five-year collaborative R&D funding program EuropeWave has been set up to procure the most promising wave energy technology solutions from developers across Europe and beyond.

In the third and final phase of the EuropeWave PCP, three prototype designs will be deployed at the open-water facilities of Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP) in the Basque Country and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Scotland for a 12-month demonstration and operational testing program.

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