Aquamarine Power Unveils Oyster 2 Design

Wave energy developer Aquamarine Power recently unveiled the design of its Oyster 2 wave energy convertor, which will be built in Scotland this summer. The new 800kW device will measure 26 metres by 16 metres and will deliver 250% more power than the original Oyster 1, which was successfully deployed at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney last summer. The new device incorporates design improvements on Oyster 1, enabling it to produce more energy, be simpler to install, and easier to maintain.

The company will begin deployment of three Oyster 2s at EMEC in summer 2011. All three devices will be linked to a single onshore 2.4 MW hydro-electric turbine. A small farm of 20 Oyster 2 devices would provide enough energy for more than 12,000 homes.

“The design concept remains exactly the same, but we have improved every element of that design, from the size and shape of the Oyster flap, to the hydraulic power take off and pipeline system,” says company CEO Martin McAdam. “Oyster 2 has very few moving parts and the hydraulic elements are modular, meaning they can be swapped in and out as maintenance is required.”

McAdams adds: “We are grateful to the UK Government for supporting the development of Oyster 2 through funding from the Marine Renewables Proving Fund (MRPF), which is managed by the Carbon Trust. Continued government support is required to enable companies such as Aquamarine Power to capitalize on their technology.”

Aquamarine Power
www.aquamarinepower.com/technologies