The US subsidiary of Scottish wave energy company Aquamarine Power is look at the potential of the technology for the Oregon coast in the northwest of the country.
Aquamarine Power USA is receiving a $50,000 grant from Oregon Wave Energy Trust (OWET) to undertake a feasibility study of deployment of the company’s Oyster® wave energy technology.
The device consists of a large hinged flap that oscillates in waves, driving high pressure water through a closed-loop sub-sea pipeline to the shore where electricity is generated by hydro power generators.
The study will look at the frequency, intensity and height of waves along the Oregon shoreline, specifically around the Lincoln County region.
Meanwhile, Aquamarine Power will be assessing local vessels for the deployment of devices and working with local communities in the most suitable locations.
“Aquamarine Power USA sees this as a strategic first step in bringing utility-scale wave power to Oregon,” says director John Fedorko.
Aquamarine Power is already testing its first Oyster 1 wave device in Orkney and plans to deploy its next-generation Oyster 2 at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in 2011.
Meanwhile, wave energy rival Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) has signed a contract with Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding to develop its PowerBuoy technology for Japanese sea conditions.
In a deal worth around 18 million yen (£138,000), the two companies will develop a new mooring system for the PowerBuoy system, which will be tested at Mitsui’s wave tank facilities.
OPT has been working with Mitsui, Idemitsu Kosan and Japan Wind Development since 2009 on the development of wave power in Japan.