The new floating wave energy converter incorporates controllable blades, on-board batteries and intelligent control systems.
The device is based on oscillating water column technology, which transforms wave motion into electricity by means of a turbine. A new type of prototype wave energy converter has been deployed at the Biscay Marine Energy Platform , an open-sea facility to support research, technical testing of multiple prototype devices.
Developed by the Spain-based engineering firm IDOM, the new floating wave energy converter incorporates controllable blades, on-board batteries and intelligent control systems. The device has been deployed in the marine testing area of BiMEP, located off the coast of Bizkaia, reinforcing the role of this infrastructure for testing and research of marine energy technologies in Europe.
Called MARMOK A 5, the wave energy converter will be electrically connected to the network through the Lab platform, integrated into the BiMEP infrastructures. The device will be evaluated in real operating conditions, with the aim of verifying its performance, robustness, reliability and ease of maintenance in the demanding marine environment. The data obtained will be fundamental to evaluate the design and move towards future pre-commercial phases of the technology.
The device is based on oscillating water column technology, which transforms wave motion into electricity by means of a turbine. The device incorporates controllable blades, on-board batteries and intelligent control systems, aimed at optimizing its operation in real conditions of operation on the high seas. This technology has a relevant precedent in BiMEP, where an earlier version of this same device was tested between 2016 and 2019, the first of its kind in the State.
The new campaign will make it possible to advance the technological validation of the system and obtain key information for its future scalability. The device will be electrically connected to the network through the Lab platform, integrated into the BiMEP infrastructures. This connection will allow to evacuate the generated energy and monitor the behaviour of the system during the testing period.
“This deployment is a pivotal milestone for IDOM and the EuropeWave programme. Building on previous offshore installation and testing campaigns, it validates years of design, engineering and learning, and marks the start of an offshore commissioning phase where we expect to demonstrate improved performance from the MARMOK A-5 in real sea conditions,” said Borja de Miguel, Project Manager at IDOM.
“Achieving a safe installation and grid connection at BiMEP is a key step towards bringing wave energy closer to commercial reality,” said Borja de Miguel, Project Manager at IDOM. The MARMOK-A-5 has a length of 42m , is 5m in diameter, with a displacement of 162Tm. It was installed on the BiMEP marine energy platform, the first WEC connected to the Spanish state electricity grid, and one of the first devices connected in the world.
In addition, the MARMOK-A-5 has served as a test platform for the Horizon 2020 OPERA project, where innovations of several European companies and institutions have been tested: turbines, control algorithms, mooring systems, which could reduce the cost of generating energy by more than 50%. Building on this experience, IDOM will continue with its technological development, working towards a commercial-sized WEC that will produce electricity at a competitive price.
Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist. While he enjoys writing on modern weapons and emerging tech, he has also reported on global politics and business. He has been previously associated with well-known media houses, including the International Business Times and ANI.
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