Penguin hits EMEC waters

Wello’s Penguin wave energy device has been installed over the weekend at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC).

Orkney-based marine services provider Green Marine UK completed the installation of the Penguin on its moorings at the Billia Croo wave test site in Orkney, yesterday, March 5, 2017.

The deployment was conducted as part Clean Energy from Ocean Waves (CEFOW) project, which was in 2015 backed by the EU’s Horizon 2020 program with €17 million.

CEFOW project, scheduled to last for 5 years with the budget of approximately €25 million, aims to demonstrate the viability of floating wave energy converters on a larger scale, and longer period of time, through the deployment of three 1MW Penguin wave energy devices.

The Finnish wave energy developer, Wello, has previously informed that the construction of the new Penguin device will begin before the summer of 2017.

Mikko Muoniovaara, Senior Project Manager at Fortum, said: “Deploying the Penguin in winter is an important milestone for us, providing valuable learning for both Fortum and Wello. Cost efficiency of operations and maintenance plays an important role in any renewables and Green Marine’s achievement shows that these operations can be done safely outside the summer season if needed.”

Wello’s Penguin device uses its asymmetric shape to convert the waves to electricity with continuous rotational movement.

In a floating element, motion energy is directly captured by a generator, resulting in conversion from movement to electricity without hydraulics, joints or gears.

Aside from Wello, and EMEC, the CEFOW project also includes Fortum as the project coordinator, Wave Hub, Mojo Maritime, Green Marine UK, Uppsala University, Plymouth University, and the University of Exeter.