Wave Energy Scotland hires PTO technical experts

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.