CorPower Ocean completes C4 wave energy system assembly in Portugal

CorPower Ocean has completed the system integration of its first commercial-scale wave energy converter, the CorPower C4.

The latest milestone for the HiWave-5 Project was delivered within CorPower Ocean‘s facility in Viana do Castelo, northern Portugal.

It follows fabrication and testing of the CorPower C4 composite hull at the same location, using an in-house mobile factory cell, and the delivery of its power take-off (PTO) from Stockholm.

The system integration involved a mating sequence connecting the two main parts – the PTO, that contains electro-mechanical equipment used to converting wave motion into electricity, and the spherical composite hull – to form the wave energy converter.

Once completed, the CorPower C4 was powered up to the Portuguese grid before a series of pre-deployment checks to verify all system functions were initiated. The pre-deployment check program will now proceed prior to moving the device quayside for ocean deployment.

The CorPower C4 represents the first commercial-scale wave energy converter to be deployed at the Aguçadoura test site, 30 kilometers south of Viana do Castelo, and marks the initial step of CorPower Ocean’s flagship HiWave-5 demonstration project which aims to deliver one of the world’s first grid-connected wave energy arrays.

Designed with a high local content approach, the CorPower C4 composite hull structures are manufactured close to offshore sites, using the ‘unique’ mobile factory concept. This is said to benefit coastal communities and boost local economies, while eliminating significant costs and CO2 footprint by avoiding transport of the hulls.

CorPower Ocean’s mobile factory technology for volume supply of composite hulls has been developed in partnership with machine builder Autonational and process company CPT Tankwell.

Featuring standard dimensions, CorPower Ocean’s drive trains (PTOs) are easily transported via road, rail and sea, enabling efficient supply from central manufacturing locations to wave energy sites worldwide, according to the Sweden-based company.

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