:: Stepping Stone to the Ocean       16/04/04

Wavegen is best known for its core business: marine renewable energy. But the company that developed the world’s first commercial wave power station has announced that it is making its wave tank facilities available to the broader marine industry.

“Ultimately all marine developers face the same issues and our facility is not limited solely to marine renewable energy.

It can be used for a broad range of applications across the industry sector: including marine civil engineering projects, ship dynamics, simulation of marine operations and assessment of offshore structures,” said Ben Yeats, project manager.

Wavegen owns and operates one of the most modern Wavetank test facilities in Europe built on 12 years of model experience.

A row of eight paddles lie at the heart of the wave tank, which can produce regular, irregular and multi-directional seas.

The wave making paddles have a novel force feedback mechanism which senses any reflections back from the beach or model, ensuring highly repeatable and stable wave conditions.

Yeats believes that Wavegen can provide a stepping stone for developers planning on projects in the “real sea”.

The company’s team of engineers and naval architects also offer a wide range of complimentary services including numerical modelling, structural and mooring analysis and wave resource assessment using its own wave rider buoy, currently deployed off the coast of Scotland.

The wave tank is currently being used for a joint venture between Wavegen and SEV, the Faroese electricity company, and is fundamental to the success of a 500kW wave power plant planned to be built in the Faroe Islands in 2005.

The facility has been used to simulate North Atlantic wave conditions and determine the performance and survivability of the world’s first tunnelled wave power plant.

ENDS.

For further information please call Platform PR:

Jane Cumming:01463 783018 (o) 07900917142 (m)
Jenny MacPherson: 01463 783018 (o) 07900917143 (m)
Robert McAllister: 01224 488091(o) 07900917145 (m)

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