Marine WITT prepares for summer tank testing

Witt Ltd, the developer behind WITT technology that converts motional energy into electricity, plans to conduct tank tests on its 200-Watt Marine WITT this summer.

Witt Ltd is focusing on the development of 200-Watt WITT marine power unit with the aim of bringing it into manufacture for sale to customers from mid-2017, the company informed.

The development work being carried out seeks to demonstrate the capability of larger WITT units operating together to generate grid scale power from the sea.

The power outputs generated from the wave tank testing will be used to evaluate the potential of WITT units to generate grid scale electrical power at sea at a much more competitive cost of energy, compared to other wave power devices, according to Witt Ltd.

Martin Wickett, Chief Technology Officer and inventor of the WITT, said: “The WITT’s key advantages over other wave energy converters or WECs are that it captures energy from all six degrees of motion, and therefore can capture up to 100% more energy from motion than comparable devices.

“As it is housed within a protective sphere, the WITT is also not exposed to rough elements at sea, unlike many other systems. This reduces maintenance costs considerably. Having the support of our key partners with their expertise in designing and deploying wave power technologies at sea, enables us to bring our WITT technology into market with much greater certainty of delivery.”

The WITT team is working in collaboration with, and with funding support from, Mojo Maritime, DNV-GL, The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, The Universities of Bristol, Plymouth and Southampton, and Innovate UK.

The Plymouth-based company has also secured critical support from global players, Gibbs Gears and Schaeffler, in building the 200-Watt WITT.