Wave data

Wave data at our full-scale and scale wave test sites comes from Datawell Directional Waverider® buoys. There are three buoys located on the grid-connected site at Billia Croo which continuously measure the sea state parameters (maximum wave height, significant wave height, energy period and peak direction) as well as their GPS position and sea surface temperature. A radio link provides a continuous feed from the buoys back to our main data centre. Data is recorded via the SCADA system to which each of our developer clients is provided access to. The SCADA system also provides a drift alarm for each buoy, utilising the GPS information.

Please note: Data shown below is streamed straight from the north wave rider buoy to the website and appears here before our strict quality control measures are applied. Due to the way that the waverider buoys work there are some readings that do not accurately represent the real wave height. These inaccurate records are removed during our routine quality control process. There may therefore occasionally be anomalies in the raw data (including unusual spikes). The data is provided here only as an indication of wave height at the wave test site, and is not intended to be used for scientific purposes.

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As well as monitoring marine conditions and the energy level of the sea, we also monitor weather data from an onshore met station. Along with the measurement of electrical power supplied to the grid, we can then assess the performance of a wave energy converter (WEC).