Wave Energy Scotland (WES) has appointed two experts for independent assessment of the projects that will proceed to the next stage of its power take-off (PTO) development program.
WES hired Uaine Gorm Power Associates, and Paul Vigars, as external experts to assist the organization in the stage-gate process for PTO stage 2 projects that will compete to progress to the stage 3.
The newly sourced experts will read and independently evaluate a number of applications, covering both technical and commercial elements in accordance with the guidance provided by WES.
A visit to contractors will also be undertaken to ensure familiarity with the technology, team and project aims, WES said.
It is anticipated that applications for the stage-gate will be open in mid-October 2017 with completed applications being returned in December 2017, according to WES.
The process will be similar to stage-gates previously run by WES, where projects are assessed on the basis of responses to an application form covering results from stage 2 and plans for stage 3.
“To ensure adequate technical expertise is available during the assessment of stage-gate applications, WES have appointed two suitably qualified and experienced individuals who can provide independent, impartial expert advice,” WES said in a contract award notice.
This stage-gate review is part of WES’ first call for secondary energy conversion technologies or power-take off systems, which closed on May 22, 2015.
The call took the form of a three-stage program, and the process to move from one stage within the process on to the next is known as the stage-gate process.