ocean energy

Laminaria’s wave energy converter completes tank testing at Plymouth University

The final LAMWEC tank tests, prior to deployment at the European Marine Energy Centre, have been completed, building on tank tests conducted in 2016. A 1/30 scale model of Laminaria’s 200kW WEC, which is being designed as part of the OCEANERA-NET LAMWEC project, was put through its paces and demonstrated survivability in extreme sea states. The latest testing programme has been supported by MaRINET2 which supports marine energy developers in accessing a range of testing facilities.

LAMWEC’s focus is to prove the survivability of a pre-commercial scale WEC which the company’s load management mechanism and storm protection system. During tank tests, the WEC endured the equivalent of significant wave heights of up to 16 metres, demonstrating that the survival mechanism can reduce loads to a chosen limit during extreme circumstances.



Production of the full-scale Laminaria WEC is now underway and is due to be completed by April in preparation for deployment at EMEC’s Billia Croo wave test site later in 2018.

“The support from MaRINET2 and OCEANERA-NET have helped us a great deal in de-risking the full-scale deployment due at EMEC this year” said Laminaria CEO Steven Nauwelaerts. “With the completion of the latest tank testing we are confident our WEC will be able to handle the challenging wave resource at EMEC and more.”

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