EMEC seeks input on Blue X wave decom ops

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has opened a consultation on a decommissioning programme for Mocean Energy’s half-scale wave energy prototype Blue X.

Scottish wave energy company Mocean Energy is undertaking a project, funded by Wave Energy Scotland (WES), to build and test at sea a half-scale 100kW wave energy converter called Blue X.

Therefore, Mocean Energy has requested consent from the regulator, Marine Scotland, to deploy and test the Blue X.

Testing is planned to be undertaken at EMEC’s Billia Croo test site from May 2021, after testing at the center’s Scapa Flow site.

The primary purpose of testing is to gather performance data and learnings from deployment of the device in order to inform further development of Mocean Energy’s wave energy converter designs.

As part of the consenting process, a decommissioning programme must be produced and consulted on. Therefore, EMEC has launched a consultation process for stakeholders and the members of public.

According to the centre, responses – including any concerns – should be submitted by 14 June 2021.

Mocean Energy is developing wave energy converters for various applications, ranging from small-scale off-grid use to large, utility-scale projects.

Its core technology is its hinged raft wave energy converter, which consists of two hulls with novel shapes connected by a single hinge.

Wave forcing, and the hulls’ dynamics cause a rotation about the hinge, which is converted to electricity via a power take-off system.

Next year, Mocean Energy plans to connect the device to a subsea battery which will be used to power a remotely operated autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).