The EU-funded OPERA project will disseminate the results of the initiative which aims to halve the cost of wave energy during the International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE) 2018.
The OPERA project involves two rounds of field tests with Oceantec’s MARMOK-A5 prototype, a floating spar oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy device.
The prototype has been deployed and grid connected at the Basque Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP), off northern Spain, since October 2016.
For 18 consecutive months the device has been grid connected, providing ample data to assess performance, reliability, survivability, cost and risks, according to OPERA.
At the same time – the testing of a new bi-radial air turbine and control algorithms have been carried out at Mutriku wave power plant, a multi-OWC shoreline facility promoted by the Basque Energy Agency (EVE).
In line with the activities undertaken over the period, three representatives of the OPERA project have been invited to present practical operating experience in three oral sessions during ICOE 2018, to be held from June 12-14, 2018, in Cherbourg, France.
Pablo Ruiz-Minguela from Tecnalia will speak on the first day of the conference offering risk reduction insights, while the second day will feature Luis Gato during technology session.
Borja de Miguel from Oceantec will round up the presentations on the third day, when he’s scheduled to talk about planning and real-sea operations.
The OPERA project, coordinated by Tecnalia and comprising 12 academic and industrial partners, aims to develop and de-risk technologies that will reduce the cost of operating wave energy devices at sea by 50% and subsequently accelerate the roll-out of marine renewable energy.