Falmouth-based wave energy developer, Seatricity, is waiting for suitable weather conditions to redeploy Oceanus 2 wave energy converter off Cornwall, following the completion of the refitting operations on the device.
The only significant factor now constraining Seatricity’s ability to redeploy the Oceanus 2 device to Cornwall’s Wave Hub test site is the weather, the company informed.
At the first suitable weather window, Seatricity plans to tow the Oceanus from its temporary berth within the Port of Truro on the River Fal, recover and survey the moorings infrastructure laid during previous deployments, repair anything that might have been damaged since the Oceanus 2 was last on site, and then re-attach the device to its moorings for another trial period.
During the trials, Seatricity intends to measure performance data for comparison with its existing models, verify the longevity of key components and collect other relevant data.
The precise length of this next deployment will depend upon a number of factors and will be the subject of a new berthing agreement with Wave Hub under their new ownership by Cornwall Council, according to Seatricity.
The Oceanus 2 device has a capacity of 162 kW, and it works as float that travels up and down with the waves operates a pump to pressurize sea water which is piped ashore to drive the generators to produce electricity.