Wave energy developer Perpetuwave Power PTY LTD has announced that its recently established subsidiary Perpetuwave Power UK Ltd has been awarded a grant of approximately $110,000 from the European Regional Development Fund Convergence Programme.
The grant supports development of Perpetuwave Power’s world-leading ‘Wave Harvester’ technology.
The ‘Wave Harvester’ technology converts up to 40% of the oceans contained energy to electricity, which is believed to be the most efficient anywhere in the world. The Wave Harvester also operates over a wide capture width, similar to wind turbines, which increase blade length and swept area for ever increasing multi-MW capacities.
The design also offers 24/7 onsite servicing and maintenance to lower operational costs over other ‘in water’ designs. The net result is a quantum improvement in performance and economics over existing designs.
A prototype will be tested as a major part of the grant funded project with performance measured to worlds’ best practice procedures, which is to measure average electricity production. This is well above the level of performance data provided by some other companies that have provided peak hydraulic data or similar which can have little to do with average electricity produced.
“These authentic results can then be used to reliably forecast electricity generated, and revenue of commercial projects,” said CEO and Managing Director Glen Dullaway.
Chairman of Perpetuwave, Shaun Coffey, said: “We have a breakthrough technology and there is still an opportunity for other interested parties to join with us in marketing this new and exciting renewable energy technology to the world.”
Chris Pomfret, chairman of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership and deputy chair of the Convergence Local Management Committee, which steers the ERDF Convergence Programme, said: “This Convergence investment further cements our region’s growing international reputation with wave energy companies, and strengthens the research links between the renewable industry and our academic institutions.”
As a feature of the project Perpetuwave Power plans to open an office in Cornwall and will work closely with the University of Exeter which has a specialist anchor and mooring division. The project also aims to conduct a series of tests on a scale prototype in world leading facilities to provide authentic performance data over a comprehensive range of wave heights.