CorPower Ocean to develop 5MW wave energy array in Scotland

Wave energy developer CorPower Ocean has signed an agreement to build what is expected to be the country’s largest wave energy project at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland.

Scheduled for deployment in 2029, the 5MW array is due to be developed at EMEC’s grid-connected Billia Croo wave energy test site and consists of 14 wave energy converters operating for up to 15 years.

The converters feature a 9m diameter spherical composite hull, which drives the movement of the power take-off as it responds to passing waves.

Key innovations include CorPower Ocean’s WaveSpring technology, which amplifies the motion and power capture in regular sea states, and a storm protection system that locks down the device during extreme conditions and enables safe offshore access for maintenance.

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“We are thrilled to be back at EMEC to build the first commercial wave farm. EMEC and Orkney offers significant know-how and an established supply chain, reducing risk and cost for the project,” said Anders Jansson, Head of Business Development at CorPower.

“The UK’s renewable auctions will be key in providing a route to market for the Billia Croo project.”

He added that the Marine Energy Council is calling for the government to contract its first wave energy project in this year’s auction, either via a £5 million ($6.7 million) wave energy ringfence or setting a clear capacity ambition supported by an alternative mechanism.

The project marks CorPower Ocean’s second at EMEC, following testing of its C3 wave energy converter at EMEC’s Scapa Flow test site in 2018 through the Wave Energy Scotland programme.

Since then, CorPower Ocean has demonstrated its C4 device off the coast of Portugal, surviving storm waves over 18m and producing electricity for the Portuguese grid.

In addition, CorPower Ocean has demonstrated an effective supply chain, installation methods and operations and maintenance.

The next step is to add three more wave energy converters, demonstrating a small wave farm prior to building the 5MW project at EMEC.

CorPower Ocean anticipates building the hull and other subsystems for the array project due to be built in Orkney, reducing transport costs and carbon emissions while creating skilled jobs and supporting the local supply chain.

Matthew Finn, Managing Director at EMEC, said: “We’re pleased to welcome CorPower Ocean back to EMEC. Developing what could become the UK’s largest wave energy array is a major step forward – not only for CorPower Ocean, but for the wave energy sector as a whole.

"There’s a vast wave energy resource across the globe – estimated at nearly ten times Europe’s annual electricity demand. Progressing towards wave energy array demonstrations is vital to realising its significant potential to strengthen energy security, create a more robust energy mix and create economic value in coastal regions.”