Sea snake deal gives Pelamis £5m boost

Published on Saturday 27 March 2010 13:32

THE era of commercial wave farms off Scotland's coast has come a step closer following ScottishPower Renewables' purchase of a second-generation "sea snake" device from Leith-based Pelamis.

The P2 Pelamis wave generator will be tested in the stormy seas off Orkney from summer 2011, with a view to maximising performance and proving its commercial viability in different sea conditions ahead of full commercial deployment.

ScottishPower is to pay Pelamis 5 million for the device, with 40 per cent coming from the Scottish Government's Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme. The cost of the device is expected to come down substantially should it enter mass production

At 590ft (180 metres), the P2 "sea snake" that ScottishPower has ordered is 164ft (50m) longer than any Pelamis to date, and is expected to be much more efficient.

It will be put through its paces at the European Marine Energy Centre (Emec) alongside a similar Pelamis device that has already commissioned by German utility company E.on.

Alan Mortimer, head of policy at ScottishPower Renewables, said: "This is the first time that ScottishPower has purchased a marine renewable device. We believe this project will represent an important role in turning Scotland's marine energy potential into a reality."

As part of a recent Crown Estate licensing round, ScottishPower announced it intends to install a wave farm capable of generating 50 megawatts off Marwick Head, about 12 miles (20km) north of the Emec test site.

Mortimer said the sea conditions are similar at each site and that experience gained at Emec will be critical. The Marwick Head farm is expected to accommodate 66 Pelamis machines if all goes according to plan.

The 750 kilowatt Pelamis P2 machine ordered by ScottishPower will be built at Pelamis yards in Leith.

Max Carcas, Pelamis business development director, said: "Our long-term objective is to drive down costs so they are comparable to offshore wind.

"With offshore wind, a prototype wind turbine is reckoned to cost eight times mre by the time they enter production."

In the long term, Pelamis anticipates building in excess of 200 wave power units for use off Scotland's coast.