Ocean Power Delivery Ltd is developing a novel offshore wave energy converter called Pelamis. Building on technology developed for the offshore industry, the Pelamis has a similar output to a modern wind turbine.

The first full-scale pre-production prototype will be built later this year and tested at the proposed UK Marine Energy Test Centre in Orkney. Ocean waves represent a considerable renewable energy resource. Waves are generated by the wind as it blows across the ocean surface. They travel great distances without significant losses and so act as an efficient energy transport mechanism across thousands of kilometres.

PELAMIS WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER

The Pelamis is a semi-submerged, articulated structure composed of cylindrical sections linked by hinged joints. The wave-induced motion of these joints is resisted by hydraulic rams, which pump high-pressure oil through hydraulic motors via smoothing accumulators. The hydraulic motors drive electrical generators to produce electricity. Power from all the joints is fed down a single umbilical cable to a junction on the seabed. Several devices can be connected together and linked to shore through a single seabed cable

SUBSEA CABLE

Power will be transmitted to shore via an 11kV 3 core 50mm˛ EPR/DWA Cable, incorporating fibre optic and control cores. AEI will supply a 10kM length, which will be divided into four sections on site for each of the four Wave Energy devices.

AEI Cables wishes to thank Ocean Power Delivery for their help in preparing the above information.
 

AEI CABLES LTD Durham Road Birtley Chester-le-Street County Durham DH3 2RA Tel:  +44 (0)191 410 3111 Fax: +44 (0)191 410 8312 Website: www.aeicables.co.uk Email:    sales@aeicables.co.uk Contact: Mr David Fraser (Export Director)              Mr Jim Duffy (UK Commercial Director)