Sigma Energy’s wave energy prototype shows no adverse effects on marine fauna

Environment

April 24, 2023, by Amir Garanovic

The University of Montenegro’s Institute of Marine Biology has assessed the impacts of Sigma Energy’s wave energy device on the ecosystem at the deployment site in the Adriatic Sea, finding it had no negative effects on the diversity of marine organisms.

The University of Montenegro’s Institute of Marine Biology conducted research on the macrozoobenthos organisms at Sigma Energy’s wave energy deployment site offshore the city of Bar in Montenegro.

Macrozoobenthos is the invertebrate community living in or on the sediment or hard substrates, consisting of microscopic benthic organisms.

The report found that the wave energy testing activities do not have any negative impacts on the diversity of macrozoobenthos organisms living at the deployment location or in its close proximity.

To remind, Slovenia-based Sigma Energy deployed its full-scale 30kW wave energy device in the Adriatic Sea, which has shown very promising operating results, according to the company.

Since the deployment in July 2022, the device weathered through some major storms, successfully operating in extreme weather, as seen in the video below.

Sigma Energy’s wave energy device is a point absorber type of a wave power plant that transforms the wave-induced vertical motion of the circular floating buoy into the electric energy.

The company has also developed and implemented its proprietary mechanical power take-off (PTO) system, with inertial unidirectional clutches, which are said to be able to smooth the rotation of the generator and increase its efficiency.

The full-scale demonstration of Sigma Energy’s device has been co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund.