Scotland provides £3m wave boost

Wave Energy Scotland has awarded a total of £3m to 10 projects that aim to improve converter technology in the sector.

The projects explore the use of different materials and processes, such as rubbers, plastics, concrete or combinations of these, for the production of wave energy converters (WECs).

Currently such devices are predominantly made from steel, which is strong and durable but costly and susceptible to corrosion, Wave Energy Scotland said.

The HydroComp project, which is being developed by CorPower Ocean, Balmoral Engineering and Wave Venture, will receive £248,6000.

CorPower Ocean is also involved in the Reinforced Polymers for Wave Energy (RePower) project, which has been awarded £249,614. The project is lead by Cruz Atcheson Consulting Engineers, with other partners including Carnegie Wave Energy, Arup Consulting Engineers, DNV GL and the National Composites Centre.

A further £249,762 has been awarded to Haydale Composite Solutions’ Advanced Rotational Moulding for Ocean Renewables (Armor) scheme, which is also supported by Crompton Moulding, WaveVenture and the Carbon Trust.

Ove Arup & Partners is the lead on the Concrete as a Technology Enabler (Create) programme, which will receive £250,000. Other partners include Cruz Atcheson Consulting Engineers, The Concrete Centre, British Precast, SeaPower and Wello.

The Advanced Rotational Moulding for Wave Energy Technologies (Armwet) project is lead by Polygen and has won £209,000. It is also backed by Wave Venture and Rotorek.

The Advanced Concrete Engineering – WEC (ACE-WEC) scheme will receive £245,231. It is lead by Quoceant with other partners Black and Veatch, Innosea, David Kerr and the University of Dundee.

Technology From Ideas’ Polyshell project is supported by DuPont, Cruz Atcheson and Radius Systems and has been awarded £244,500.

The NetBuoy programme is lead by Tension Technology International, with backing from Black and Veatch, Optimus and Quoceant. It has won £245,300.

The University of Edinburgh’s Elasto project, which also involves the University of Plymouth and Griffon Hoverwork, has been awarded £244,714.

Edinburgh University is also involved in the RotoHybrid scheme, together with Queen’s University Belfast, Pelagic Innovation, CETO UK, EireComposites and Kingspan Environmental. It has won £250,000.

Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy Paul Wheelhouse said: “Continued innovation is vital in emerging renewable technologies such as wave energy.

“This funding could result in longer lasting wave converters that are better able to harness the power of the sea and more efficiently turn it into renewable energy.”

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