Site Activity
Billia Croo Wave Test Site
In August 2004, Pelamis Wave Power (PWP) installed their "Pelamis 750" device on site for full scale testing. The resultant successful generation of electricity to the National Grid was a world's first and one that EMEC is proud to have assisted with. To date PWP have continued to undertake various tests as part of their ongoing development programme.
During 2005 AW Energy from Finland undertook stand alone mechanical testing in the shallower waters at the test site.
Aquamarine Power Ltd officially launched their nearshore "Oyster" device on 20 November 2009 at EMEC's Billia Croo site (click here for the news story). The device, which was installed over summer 2009 is currently the world's largest working hydro-electric wave energy device. Oyster is now producing power by pumping high pressure water to its onshore hydro-electric turbine. Aquamarine are planning to follow this with a small array of 3 second generation Oyster devices in 2011-12.
Ocean Power Technologies are scheduled to deploy their PowerBuoy in 2010.
E.ON are scheduled to deploy a Pelamis P-2 device in conjunction with Pelamis Wave Power in 2010.
Scottish Power Renewables will be deploying a second Pelamis P-2 device on an adjacent berth in 2011.
Most recently, EMEC has signed a contract with Finnish wave energy developers Wello Oy to deploy their device in 2011 on a new cable being installed to the north of the site this summer.
Further infrastructure works continue at Billia Croo. These will provide a laydown area for future developers to use, similar to that already created at the Tidal Site. Other site works, which have completed, include an upgrade to the Black Craig lookout point, which will include the facilities for stationed wildlife observers. These trained observers and a high spec camera will provide essential baseline data for the wave test site (see research section for further details). The research project began in March 2009.
EMEC continues to maintain the accreditation as a measurement laboratory with the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) for measurement of wave and tidal energy conversion systems, electrical energy output (as voltage and current) and for meteorological data including temperature, barometric pressure and rainfall. The accreditation is against the international standard ISO 17025:2005 and is the backbone of our performance assessment capabilities.
Fall of Warness Tidal Test Site
The test site was officially opened by Scotland's First Minister in September 2007.
The first developer to use the site is Dublin based OpenHydro, who began the installation of their open centred turbine in 2006. Full testing is now underway, with their device becoming the first to be grid connected in Scotland and subsequently the first to successfully generate electricity to the National Grid in the UK - click here to view news story. OpenHydro are pleased with the outcome and are moving into the next phase of their testing. This has involved placing a blank turbine on the seabed adjoining their installed device, using the specially commissioned "OpenHydro Installer" in summer 2008. (Click here for the news story, in News Archive)
Tidal Generation Ltd continue preparatory work on the tidal site for deploying their tidal turbine in 2010. They have successfully used DP vessels to progress tripod base works and will next connect the turbine nacelle
Hammerfest Strom UK Ltd has deployed an ADCP and turbulence meter at the site, preparatory to their device deployment by Scottish Power Renewables in 2010.
Atlantis Resources Corporation have secured a berth at the tidal test site, and are scheduled to deploy their AK-1000 turbine in 2010.
Voith Hydro and RWE Innogy will jointly install a one-megawatt tidal turbine in 2011 through the joint venture company Voith Hydro Ocean Current Technologies, with foundation works starting this year.
Scotrenewables will be installing the SR250 floating tidal energy device at the test site in 2011.
Other developers are planning preparation works, with deployments of further tidal turbines scheduled for 2010 and beyond.
The SCADA system is now almost complete and this will enable developers to access their devices and the site data remotely via broadband. EMEC are also continuously undertaking ADCP deployments at the site for each developer’s specific locations, as well as a variety of ROV surveys.
The wildlife observations (see research section) at the test site which have been underway since June 2005 are continuing to provide essential baseline environmental data. Further baseline data gathering projects are planned to commence soon.
UKAS accreditation was obtained for the tidal site in January 2009 (see wave site above).
Click here to view the Site Opening Photographs.
Work will begin in 2010 on replacement of the cable ends on the tidal site and also the wave site. This will enhance the range of our electrical testing capabilities.
Funding from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change is also enabling the expansion of both test sites, with one new cable at the wave site and two new cables at the tidal due to be installed in Summer 2010.
Part of that funding worth £8 million, will also support the creation of nursery sites. These will allow developers to trial smaller scale marine energy devices – as well as full size prototypes – in less challenging sea conditions than those experienced at EMEC’s main test sites (click here for the news story).