Firms link up to tap wave power

EDINBURGH-BASED wave energy developer Aquamarine Power has joined forces with BAE Systems in a project designed to help create the world's first commercial wave farm.

The two companies will examine ways of enabling large-scale commercial production of Aquamarine's new wave energy device, known as Oyster.

The Oyster has been undergoing sea trials in Orkney.

The device is a hinged flap connected to the sea-bed which uses wave power to deliver high-pressure water to an onshore turbine.

The 900,000 project has been co-funded by the Technology Strategy Board.

Aquamarine's chief executive, Martin McAdam, said: "The Oyster system works well. Our next step is to drive down the cost of electricity generated from wave power through improvements in Oyster reliability and reduced maintenance costs."

Under this new partnership, engineers at BAE Systems will work with Aquamarine to develop an intelligent diagnostic system and remote ballasting mechanism for the Oyster. The companies believe these innovations will drive down maintenance costs and help to maximise energy production. This in turn would pave the way for the Oyster technology to be rolled out on a commercial scale.