Wave energy company Bombora has delayed the planned deployment of its mWave demonstration system in Wales to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It said that with supplier workshops currently shut the delay to the 1.5MW Pembrokeshire project off Wales was necessary. Bombora added it was confident installation would be possible in the first half of next year.
A company spokesperson told reNEWS: “We have announced a delay on deploying our 1.5MW mWave in Wales from later this year to 2021 as supplier workshops are shut for now and safety has to be our first priority.
“This makes way for the team to accelerate design work on our 3MW Lanzarote project due for deployment in 2022.”
She added that Bombora’s team is now working remotely to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on deployment work.
The mWAVE system is a membrane style wave energy converter located 10 metres beneath the ocean’s surface, similar to a fully submerged reef. It is invisible from the shore said Bombora.
As ocean waves pass over mWave, the membranes deflect pumping air through a turbine to generate electricity.
The company said it is also progressing further opportunities in the Spanish Canary Islands, Japan, Ireland and Australia.