OCEAN BED SOCKET FOR WAVE ENERGY

Wave Hub “on course” for first devices in 2011
13 February 2009 (New Energy Focus)

"The Wave Hub scheme could be testing wave power devices off the coast of Cornwall by 2011…The prediction comes three months after the appointment of a project manager put troubled Wave Hub back on track, following a series of difficulties…the south west Regional Development Agency (RDA), which is leading on the project, applied for permission to construct a "Safety Zone" around the proposed 8MW wave power testing site 10 miles off the coast of Hayle in Cornwall…the eight kilometre square zone is to protect those in the maritime industry who may be operating in the area.

"The Agency said it did not know when it was expecting a response from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, which makes the final decision…

"[A management controversy and the] decision to downgrade Wave Hub from 20MW to 8MW, put the project's future into question."

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"But the RDA now seems confident that Wave Hub will be going ahead, and says it is actively working with four developers who are interested in deploying their devices at the site…

"Ocean Power Technologies, Fred Olsen, Oceanlinx and WestWave, a consortium that is using Pelamis technology, are all set to be leased a sea area of two square kilometres.
It is anticipated that up to 30 devices could be deployed.

"Designed to be a "giant plug socket on the seabed", Wave Hub will cost around £32 million and will provide a UK grid-connected site for developers to test wave power converters…The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in the Orkneys also provides a grid-connected wave facility along with its tidal berths."