Havkraft, a Norwegian wave energy developer, has announced that its floating wave energy plant is now fully functional.
The wave power plant is currently deployed off Stad, a peninsula in northwestern part of Norway.
This full scale prototype wave energy plant has the capacity of 200 kW, and serves as a demonstration plant.
The funding in the amount of EUR 500.000 necessary for the deployment of this demonstration plant was received from Innovation Norway.
Tidal Energy Today Staff spoke to Geir Arne Solheim , CEO of Havkraft, who said: “We are using the prototype to get as much learning time and information as we can so that we can build several models in formation, based on this full scale model.”
According to Solheim, the funding necessary for the construction of 1.5 MW full scale wave power plant would require additional investment in the amount of approximately USD 2.6 mln.
Solheim added the company is currently searching for a client that would help deliver the full scale wave plant.
Havkraft, in collaboration with Kvernevik Engineering, has transformed a fishing vessel into a wave energy plant.
The developers have installed four large chambers in the vessel’s bow.
The technology works when the waves striking the vessel cause the water levels in the chambers to rise. This creates an increase in air pressure which in turn drives four turbines – one for each chamber, generating electricity.
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Image: Havkraft