US wave developer Ocean Power Technologies has released “encouraging” initial data results of accelerated life testing of its upgraded APB350 A1 PowerBuoy device.
The New Jersey-based company said the wave energy converter featuring a redesigned power take-off had exceeded its nameplate rating of 350W.
OPT’s engineering vice-president said: “To date, the maximum power produced during any 24-hour period has exceeded 28kWh, which is 233% more than the nameplate rating of 8.4kWh.”
The company said the A1 had demonstrated its ability to generate sufficient power at very low sea states, confirming significant PTO efficiency improvements as compared to the previous design.
These improvements extend the buoy’s ability to provide required power to its payload over longer “zero wave” periods, it said. This is seen as a critical performance requirement for potential customers of autonomous offshore power.
“We are encouraged by A1’s performance to date including power generation during its initial deployment, especially considering the recent rough and high sea states which resulted from Hurricane Joaquin,” said OPT chief executive George H. Kirby.
Kirby added: “Three key focal points of the A1 sea trial have demonstrated considerable progress toward commercial readiness: the linear seal, which prevents water from entering the buoy; the PTO, which has showed minimal wear during the initial deployment; and the survivability of the PowerBuoy system during high sea states.”
Kirby said the next generation of the APB350 would be ready for deployment by the end of the current fiscal year.
Image: PowerBuoy off New York (OPT)
