CorPower completes world’s largest wave energy test-rig
The system will play a fundamental role supporting CorPower’s flagship HiWave-5 demonstration project
CorPower has constructed the world’s largest wave energy test-rig following an intense twoyear project.
The 45-tonne moving mass system, installed at CorPower’s Stockholm base, is capable of simulating ocean wave conditions anywhere in the world. The design, build and accreditation has been supported by key supplier ABB and accrediting body DNV.
Measuring 40m in length and 9m in width, the system will play a fundamental role supporting CorPower’s flagship HiWave-5 demonstration project, involving the deployment of the firm’s first full-scale WEC (Wave Energy Converter) off the coast of Portugal, later this year.
For the last decade CorPower has been steadily undergoing a rigorous five-stage product development and verification process, which initially started with small scale tests in Portugal and France. It later progressed to a half-scale WEC prototype, which also underwent dry-rig testing prior to sea trials in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, in partnership with utility firm Iberdrola.
“We are thrilled to announce the completion of the world’s largest wave energy testrig,” said CorPower Project lead Antoine Boudoin, responsible for delivering the system.
“It’s one-of-a-kind and purpose built to test the overall performance and survivability of CorPower’s WECs at full-scale. The test-rig catapults us to the next phase, enabling us to perform a broad range of isolated tests, involving individual modules and equipment, before eventually testing the device as a complete integrated system in the ocean."
ARMOR solar power films GmbH from Kitzingen, Germany, known under the brand name ASCA®, has developed a new technology that allows organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells to be integrated quickly, easily and flexibly into any glass format and facade.
Flat glass processor BGT Bischoff Glastechnik GmbH – based in Bretten near Karlsruhe, Germany – is now offering the transparent, energy-generating glass modules to the global construction industry.
In addition to manufacturing the OPV components, ARMOR ASCA also plans the system integration, from cable routing and connection technology to the inverter. The solar power is fed into the public grid or consumed directly.
Energy-generating high-rise buildings
While the balustrades are transparent from the inside, they are translucent from the outside, thereby guaranteeing privacy from the outside.
The solar power is produced by carbonbased organic solar cells, which ARMOR ASCA applies in very thin layers to fine films using a special printing process.
“With the glass balustrades, ARMOR ASCA closes a gap in facade construction. For the first time, safety glass for high-rise buildings can also generate energy,” said
Martin Sulzer, who heads technical sales at BGT.
He adds, “The modules are ideally suited for facades because they are attractive, and there is also no complete loss of power even when partial shading occurs thanks to their technical properties.”
Unlike conventional crystalline solar cells, the organic solar films are not only flexible and transparent, but can also be bent and shaped as desired.
The solar film can be produced in blue, green, grey and red. There are also no limits in terms of shape, length, size and design.
“We can produce any shape of solar cell, which thus becomes part of the architecture and design,” said Hermann Issa, senior vice president in charge of Business Development & Project Management at ARMOR ASCA.
First project in commercial housing
Once the design has been completed, the system can be planned within about ten days. The first glass balustrades with integrated solar films went into operation in May at condominiums in Stuttgart Möhringen. “
We are pleased to demonstrate how well our balustrades perform in this project.
This proves that our technology also works excellently in commercial housing,” added Issa.