OPT redeploys wave energy device off New Jersey

Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) has redeployed its wave energy device, the PB3-A1 PowerBuoy, off the coast of New Jersey.

The device was deployed after the completion of necessary repairs and maintenance operations, and the integration of the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) Self-Contained Ocean Observing Payload (SCOOP) monitoring system, which collects site-specific data on meteorological and ocean conditions and is powered by the PB3 PowerBuoy, OPT informed.

The deployment of SCOOP is part of the previously announced Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between OPT and NDBC.

George Kirby, President and Chief Executive Officer of OPT, said: “The deployment of the PB3 PowerBuoy with SCOOP is an important step forward in OPT’s commercialization efforts in the ocean observing sector. This deployment is the first time SCOOP has been powered with a persistent power source rather than relying solely on its own internal battery capacity. The SCOOP is expected to provide NDBC with high quality metocean data, and the data gathered during this deployment will also assist OPT and NDBC in site selection for the next phase of the CRADA.”

Kirby added that OPT and NDBC anticipate the next phase of the CRADA will be a northern latitude deployment where persistent power, reliability and survivability have presented challenges for NDBC operations.

Mike Mekhiche, OPT’s Vice President of Engineering, added: “PB3 PowerBuoy operating data is transmitted to OPT’s main control center, located in Pennington, New Jersey. SCOOP data, which is also accessible from OPT’s control center, is transmitted to NDBC for integration into their ocean observing system platform, which is used by industry, government, and academia.”

Prior to retrieval for inspection, repair, and upgrade, OPT’s PB3-A1 achieved a total cumulative deployment time exceeding 125 days, with energy generation surpassing 1 MWh, and a new maximum generation record of 32 kWh of energy for a 24-hour period, the US-based wave energy developer informed.