Atmocean deploys its wave energy system off Peru

Atmocean, a US wave energy developer, has completed the deployment process of its wave energy system off Ilo, Peru.

Following the unsuccessful deployment attempt on June 10, Atmocean has successfully installed its wave energy system yesterday, July 5, 2015.

The deployed demonstration system consists of 5 pumps and 5 buoys, and represents 1/3 of the complete commercial system.

The system is capable of producing both electricity and fresh water out of sea water through desalination process.

To remind, Atmocean confirmed to Tidal Energy Today that for the time being the company will focus only on fresh water production, because the production of electricity is currently not a viable option due to cheap Peruvian energy market.

Chris White, Project Manager for Atmocean, said: “This deployment is the culmination of our effort that begun last winter in which we manufactured the wave energy seawater pumps in New Mexico, the buoys in Lima, and the mooring system and deployment rafts in Ilo.

“This is a major development milestone both for Atmocean and for the wave energy industry which up to now has encountered numerous cost and operational problems. This success helps ‘right the ship’ of wave energy.”

Earlier this year, the Peruvian Navy officially granted a one-year license to Atmocean, permitting it to demonstrate its wave energy technology off Peru.

Atmocean wave energy system operates by capturing the rising and falling motion of ocean waves to drive a piston in a cylinder which pressurizes the seawater. By connecting several seawater pumps together as an array, this pressurized seawater can be sent to the onshore converters.

Atmocean is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. The company has set up a Peruvian subsidiary to seize the opportunities available in Latin America and Peru.

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Images: Atmocean