Australian wave energy device retrieved for scheduled maintenance (Video)

The University of Western Australia’s (UWA) Moored MultiModal Multibody (M4) wave energy converter (WEC) has been retrieved for its first scheduled maintenance checks following the initial deployment phase.

The M4 WEC was brought into the marina to undergo its first scheduled checks and maintenance tasks as part of its operational plan. 

According to the University of Western Australia’s (UWA) Oceans Institute, the M4’s first deployment was “very successful,” with the team expressing gratitude to the collaborative efforts of project partners that contributed to the initial stage’s achievements.

Following the maintenance, the wave energy platform is expected to be redeployed shortly, continuing its role in advancing marine renewable energy research and testing.

Bringing the M4 into the marina

Watch video here

The project, run by UWA’s Marine Energy Research Australia and funded by the Blue Economy CRC and the Western Australian State Government, is part of ongoing research into the Great Southern’s potential as a wave energy hub.

The M4 wave energy device, featuring a triangular forward frame, a trailing arm, and a power generator on the connecting hinge, is built from structural steel beams and four steel floater buoys for buoyancy and ballast.

Just recently, the M4 WEC passed a survival mode test, demonstrating its endurance in harsh offshore conditions. 

Earlier in November, the M4 WEC was deployed in King George Sound, Albany, where the device started transmitting performance data, as it beings the six-month test phase.