The first Protean™ wave energy converter (WEC) buoy has been deployed at Port of Bunbury, Western Australia.
The deployment will enable Protean Wave Energy Ltd to collect operational and environmental data for a pre-feasibility assessment ahead of a commercial pilot wave farm.
The multi-buoy demonstration wave farm will be deployed progressively with Stage 1 consisting of three Protean™ WEC buoys. The remaining buoys to complete Stage 1 are expected to enter the water during the coming weeks.
The wave farm will be in operation for up to a maximum period ending 30 September 2016, during which time the company will accumulate performance and environmental data.
The data will be evaluated with a view to optimisation of the system design and refinement of key inputs into a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) that will target deployment of the company’s first commercial pilot wave farm. An initial assessment of the performance data for Stage 1 will help inform the decision regarding whether a second stage of deployment with additional buoys at the port of Bunbury is required for the PFS inputs.
The build team, operating in Western Australia, are currently completing the manufacture and testing of the remaining Stage 1 buoys for deployment at Port of Bunbury.
The company is also continuing to advance its plan to deploy the Protean™ WEC in California off the Cal Poly research pier.