Wave-tricity mulls over barge refitting for WEC trials

Wave-tricity, a UK-based wave energy developer, is pondering options to refit and refurbish a concrete barge that would be used as a trials platform for its wave energy device.

The trials platform will be used to mount the power generating equipment associated with point absorber wave energy converter, according to the speculative notice issued by the Welsh government’s procurement portal Sell2Wales.

The notice further states that an additional work stream will involve design support for the design of the full sized platform which will be manufactured on completion of the initial 2-year trials period.

The platform is expected to be sea ready by February 28, 2017, with the refit work due date set for February 10, in order to allow sailing preparations to be carried out.

This collaborative contract includes working with Wave-tricity that will develop further as the trials progress with numerous organisations involved in the design and testing of this innovative technology throughout the project, according to Sell2Wales.

To remind, Wave-tricity recently received £4 million for the deployment of its wave energy device off Pembrokeshire through the Welsh European Funding Office under the European Regional Development Fund for West Wales and the Valleys Operational Programme.