June 21:
Cornwall's pioneering offshore Wave Hub in Hayle is expected to be connected for the first time this weekend, but according to renewable energy developer, Seatricity, it could be another 12 months before it produces electricity.
The company says further testing is required on the hub before it becomes fully operational.
The £30m project consists of a giant "socket" on the sea bed, 10 miles off the coast of Hayle, which connects wave energy machines to the power grid through an underwater cable.
The final berth at the test facility was taken by an Australian energy producer, Carnegie Wave Energy in April.
Seatricity's experimental device, which will be towed from Falmouth, uses octagonal aluminium floats to capture wave energy by pressurising seawater.
In turn this drives a turbine which produces electricity.
Seatricity said it eventually wanted 60 devices connected to the hub in a plan to create power for the National Grid.
Managing director of the state-owned Wave Hub, Claire Gibson, said: “The mooring system has been installed over the last few weeks and we look forward to them taking up their berth as our first customer."
Source: http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Pioneering-Wave-Hub-goes-live-weekend/story-21273392-detail/story.html?
Comments
Post a Comment