EMEC opens consultation on Archimedes Waveswing decom programme

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has launched a consultation on a decommissioning programme for AWS Ocean Energy’s Archimedes Waveswing device that will be tested in the waters off Orkney in summer 2021.

Scotland-based wave energy developer AWS Ocean Energy is undertaking a project funded by Wave Energy Scotland (WES) through its Novel WEC Programme to build and test at sea a nominally half-scale prototype of its Archimedes Waveswing wave energy converter (WEC).

The testing of the partial scale Waveswing, with a power capacity of up to 16kW, is planned to start at EMEC’s Scapa Flow test site in Orkney in July 2021.

AWS Ocean Energy has therefore requested consent from the regulator, Marine Scotland, to deploy and test the device.

As part of the consenting process, a decommissioning programme must be produced and consulted on under the Energy Act 2004.

In this regard, EMEC has opened up a consultation on the proposed decommissioning programme, inviting stakeholders and members of the public to provide responses including any potential concerns by 28 June 2021.

The Waveswing is a submerged point absorber that changes volume in response to pressure variations caused by ocean waves. Nominal rating for a full-scale device is 195kW although this is capable of being scaled up as the technology becomes further developed.

AWS Ocean Energy’s main focus is wave power generation technology, but they are also working on intelligent active mooring systems and sub-sea self-drilled piling equipment.

Overall, the partial-scale WEC that will be deployed at EMEC this summer will measure 4.5 metres in diameter and have an approximate height of 7.5 metres.

The device will be designed for full onshore commissioning and extended dry testing ahead of deployment direct from sea transport at the test site, EMEC noted.