Ocean Energy gets onboard Selkie project

Ireland-Wales cooperation programme, the Selkie project, has picked Ocean Energy as part of its wave energy tender call.

Ocean Energy is a wave energy technology developer based in Cobh, Ireland.

The company completed the fabrication of its 500kW OE35 device for deployment at the US Navy Test Site in Hawaii.

This device has been delivered to Hawaii and will be deployed at the test site for 12 months.

Selkie is bringing together leading researchers and businesses to improve the performance of marine energy devices and technologies.

University College Cork are leading the project.

Partners also include Swansea University, Marine Energy Wales, Menter Môn, DP Energy Ireland and Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions.

Selkie will specifically test and validate the technology tools on two pilot demo technologies: one wave and one tidal technology.

The pilot testing will advance the knowledge for Wales and Ireland SMEs in general.

Gordon Dalton, Selkie project coordinator, said:

“The Selkie Project is confident that Ocean Energy company participation, as lead wave energy pilot in the Selkie project, will significantly benefit Ocean Energy company in its road to commercialisation.

“Selkie will tailor its suite of tools to the wave energy sector needs and requirements, worth up to €4 million in EC contribution.”

Professor Tony Lewis, chief technology officer of OceanEnergy, also said:

“The participation of industry in this project will help to deliver a smoother commercialisation pathway by combining expertise, and critically, operational experience to validate the tools produced within the project.