Finnish renewable technology developer, Wello Ltd, announced yesterday its Penguin wave energy converter is ready for full-scale deployment at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, following successful testing.
Wello’s 0.5 MW Penguin device, which produces sustainable power through wave energy conversion, has been granted permission for full-scale deployment by Marine Scotland after the technology was verified by leading certification body Det Norske Veritas (DNV).
Extensive trials have been completed to ensure the device, developed during 2010-2011 and due to be deployed at EMEC’s wave test site at Billia Croo by the end of March, is sea-ready and ongoing environmental studies will monitor any potential impact during the full test phase.
Aki Luukkainen, CEO of Wello Ltd, says: “We are excited to confirm our readiness to move to full-scale operations after achieving success in model testing, and are extremely pleased by the short timescale within which we have been able to move forward to full-scale deployment.
“Successful testing of this device at EMEC would mean the full scale Penguin generator is capable of deployment in larger wave energy parks worldwide. The team at EMEC has offered us tremendous support, which has helped us to reach this stage within such a short space of time.”
Stuart Baird, operations director of EMEC , said: “We are delighted that Wello has reached this stage in their testing programme. This is a major milestone for them, and we look forward to seeing the Penguin installed at our wave test site at Billia Croo.”
[mappress] Offshore WIND staff, March 01, 2012