OPT’s PowerBuoy takes on Japanese waves

Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) informed that a PB3 PowerBuoy was deployed off the coast of Kozu-shima Island in Japan as part of its first lease agreement with Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding (MES).

Having arrived in Tokyo in March, the PB3 wave device was transported to Kozu-shima Island where it was staged dockside, and where standard pre-deployment functional checks and preparations were carried out.

The deployment of the PB3 and its moorings was completed by a joint team of Penta-Ocean Construction and MES. OPT said it supported MES with the mooring system specifically for the harsh ocean conditions of Kozu-shima Island.

Under the $975,000 lease agreement OPT reached with MES in June 2016, the PB3 will remain deployed for six months, with the possibility of extension.

Throughout its planned deployment, the performance of the PB3 will be monitored with the intent of demonstrating its capabilities for a range of applications, according to OPT.

George Kirby, President and Chief Executive Officer at OPT, said: “This is an exciting time for OPT as we initiate this lease and deploy the PB3 in Japanese waters for the first time. The deployment went well and the PB3 has already exceeded two thousand Watts of peak power.”

Toshihiko Maemura, Manager of the Renewable Energy Project Group of MES, added: “Our collaboration with OPT has been exemplary and we are excited to see the PB3 operating well in Japanese waters. We are looking forward to a successful ocean demonstration in order to confirm effect of our resonance control and durability of our mooring system.”

OPT’s PB3 PowerBuoy harvests the energy of the waves, and can act as both power and communication platform for remote offshore applications.