The Hailong 1 wave energy device is based on an independent research and development by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), without any associations with Pelamis Wave Power during the development process, spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in the UK, Zeng Rong, said in a letter to The Guardian.
Following the suspicions raised in the article first published by The Guardian about the possible connection between the theft of several laptops from the Pelamis’ offices in 2011, and the design of the Hailong 1 WEC that emerged a couple of years later in China, bearing striking similarities with the Pelamis WEC design, the Chinese embassy in the UK sent the letter to The Guardian stating such reports are not grounded in facts.
Namely, the letter reads that an inquiry about the Hailong 1 WEC was sent to CSIC who responded that the device has been developed through independent research, and that the Chinese company owns a patent for the device.
“In the designing and building process, the Chinese company had never had discussion with any British entity with regard to the relevant technology, nor purchased any reference material not open to the public or employed any personnel associated with the Scottish company, Pelamis Wave Power,” the Chinese embassy letter published in The Guardian reads.
The letter further states that there are significant differences between the designs of two WECs in question, and that Hailong 1 was designed specifically for Chinese marine environment.