Fred. Olsen’s wave energy converter “Lifesaver” has left the AP’s shipyard in Falmouth for further deployment and electrical generation off the Pacific island of O’ahu, Hawaii.
The main sections of the device were manufactured, painted, assembled and deployed from A&P’s shipyard in Falmouth nearly three years ago and the device has since undergone testing at the local FaBTest wave test site in Falmouth Bay.
The Lifesaver, a 16-metre-diameter, open-centre point-absorber concept hatched by Norway’s Fred Olsen captures the energy of nearshore waves and converts it into clean, sustainable electricity.
Alan Taylor , the local representative for Fred. Olsen said: “ The test site at FaBTest has presented the device with a wide range of operating conditions – including some significant storm events – that have helped to prove the robustness of the design and helped us understand the real world operating performance. The next step is to demonstrate this experience to new markets and set the scope for the next stages of the development of the technology.”
Paul Weston , marine renewable energy manager for A&P Group, added: “The redeployment of the device from the UK to the USA indicates that the UK is still currently on top when it comes to wave power.”
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Image: RegenSW