The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Firms get funding to pioneer trials of wave energy
Scottish companies will develop method to harness power
Two Scottish firms have secured £2.5million to trial prototype technology which could provide a costeffective, reliable way of turning wave power into electricity.
Inverness-based development bodyWave Energy Scotland ( WES) has awarded the funding to Edinburgh companies Artemis Intelligent Power and Quoceant.
Artemis managing director Niall Caldwell said that Orkney’s EuropeanMarine Energy Centre ( Emec) would be a “very strong contender” as a test site for the equipment once it is ready for sea trials.
The companies believe their Quantor “digital displacement hydraulics” system is a “fundamental advance” in capturing mechanical power generated by renewable sources.
Mr Caldwell said: “We have combined the established advantages of hydraulic power, controlling tremendous forces in harsh environments at comparatively low cost, with the latest in smart digital control to enable dramatic improvements in efficiency and controllability ofwaveenergy devices.”
With the WES backing, the firms will build and demonstrate a complete hybrid power transmission on a laboratory test rig. It will simulate the behaviour of a wave-energy converter responding to a range of different real sea conditions.
The technology has been developed with engineering consultancy Quoceant, whose team pioneered the Pelamis wave-energy device.
“Quoceant’s engineers have accumulated thousands of sea hours of practical experience in hydraulic power systems, and we have already proven in the lab that the Quantor concept performs as we expected,” Mr Caldwell said.
He added: “Although the testing is taking place in a controlled environment in Edinburgh, we will ultimately move on to fullscale testing at sea and Emec would be a very strong contender to be an early test site.”
The Quantor project was one of three technologies chosen by WES for its power take-off development programme. The others, which also each rec ei v e d just under £2.5million, involve Edinburgh University and Italian company Umbra Cuscinetti.
WES managing director Tim Hurst said: “After an extensive evaluation process, these technologies were assessed to be the best in the programme and worthy of further development.”
Yesterday also sawa new Europe-wide marine energy fund, worth almost £15million, launched by development agency Scottish Enterprise. Financed by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Programme, the Oceanera-Net Co-fund project involves a consortium of seven governments and agencies. It will open nextmonthto firmsandresearch organisations to “support collaborative research projects which demonstrate and validate ocean-energy technologies.” leisure travellers has seen turnover double an d wo n several awards.
Mr Ross said: “Rachel and I have striven to create a sustainable business model for our hotel, centred on employing excellent local staff, providing great customer service, local knowledge and awarm welcome for guests visiting Argyll.
“This year marks the 50th anniversary of Loch Melfort Hotel and this investment will help build on our reputation and enhance the standard of accommodation for years to come.”
The owners have been awarded £101,000 from development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for the project.