Seven-figure Wave Energy Scotland funding to aid quartet of green projects

Four companies are to share almost £1.4 million for projects that aim to drive down the cost of wave power in Scotland.

Tim Hurst, CEO, Wave Energy Scotland at Findhorn Beach, Moray. Picture: Marc Hindley

The schemes will develop technology to enable the quick connection and disconnection of wave energy convertors, hopefully leading to reduced costs and improving reliability. The projects have secured the funding from Wave Energy Scotland (WES).

Tim Hurst, managing director of WES, said: “This programme will develop technology that will reduce the cost of wave and tidal energy and ultimately help marine energy play a part in Scotland’s net-zero future. Connecting and disconnecting devices quickly and remotely will increase safety in offshore operations, and the wider potential for these technologies is significant across offshore and subsea applications.”

Scottish energy minister Paul Wheelhouse added: “This announcement represents an important step forward for Scotland’s world-leading wave energy sector. We believe that wave energy offers tremendous economic potential and can play an important role in Scotland’s response to the global climate emergency.

“I am immensely proud of the progress being made under our Wave Energy Scotland programme, which is by far the largest of its kind in the world.”

Among the projects, Apollo’s connector uses a passive locking mechanism that provides the connection and load transfer between the wave energy convertor and its moorings. This function is purely mechanical and requires only the input of a suitable deck winch on the installation vessel.

Blackfish Engineering Design has developed a remote installation system for a wave energy convertor or other floating system. It allows quick connection and disconnection of a convertor to an offshore buoy, providing both a mechanical mooring and electrical connection.

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