Testing of Enel Green Power’s R115 Continues

The second phase of testing of Enel Green Power’s R115, the first machine in the world that produces electricity from sea waves, has begun.

The machine, which has been developed by 40 South Energy, will leave once again from the port of Livorno, this time completely assembled, to be tested offshore at Punta Righini before reaching its final location of Elba island. Once completed, the R115 generators, which have a capacity is 150 kilowatts, will be able to produce 220 gigawatt-hours per year, enough to meet the electricity demand of more than 80 households.

With wave power generation EGP is further expanding its technological portfolio, which already includes hydropower, geothermal, solar power, wind power and biomass.

The first phase of testing confirmed both the machine’s expected performance as well as the simplicity of its installation, while the second phase will aim to optimise use of materials and operations.

“Nobody has ever developed marine energy before,” said a satisfied EGP CEO Francesco Starace at the project’s presentation at the Livorno Yacht Club on 31 January. “We believe in this technology for several reasons: it’s safe, as maintenance can be carried out on the surface, it’s safe for navigation due to a scuttling system that avoids collisions with fishing ships and is made of perfectly ordinary materials.

“We think it can be developed in Latin America, and we are thinking about developing a machine that can produce up to two megawatts,” Starace concluded.

EGP and 40South Energy have in fact further consolidated their partnership in order to develop a new 2MW prototype, which will operate just like the model currently being tested and have its essential characteristics.

[mappress]

Press Release, February 05, 2014