Sixteen companies from around the world expressed an interest in using Wave Hub.

The South West RDA has now interviewed a number of them and chosen three with whom it will work for the first phase of the project. This is expected to see work commence on building Wave Hub next year, with wave devices deployed soon afterwards.

Nick Harrington, Wave Hub project manager at the South West RDA said, 'We have chosen three companies that are sufficiently advanced with their devices, have the resources to deliver their projects and are committed to working with stakeholders in Cornwall through the Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership to capture the economic benefits of Wave Hub for Cornwall and the South West region.

'All three have developed very different technologies and will form a core group with which we can move forward. There is still space on Wave Hub for other companies to join later, and we are likely to hold more interviews later this year for further deployments in the future.'

There are still several hurdles to overcome before Wave Hub becomes a reality. Funding is being sought to meet the £15m costs of the project and consents need to be secured from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The South West RDA, which has already committed £2m to the Wave Hub project as part of its strategy to develop environmental technologies in the South West, will also be seeking a private sector partner that would own and operate Wave Hub.

The three companies shortlisted for Wave Hub are:

Ocean Prospect Ltd, a Bristol UK based company and subsidiary of the Wind Prospect Group.

Ocean Prospect intends to trial up to 10 Pelamis P750 devices developed by Ocean Power Delivery of Edinburgh. The Pelamis is a semi-submerged, articulated structure composed of cylindrical sections linked by hinged joints. The wave-induced motion of these joints is resisted by hydraulic rams, which pump high-pressure oil through hydraulic motors which drive electrical generators to produce electricity.

Ocean Power Technologies, based in Warwick UK, plans to install a 5MW project at the Wave Hub based on its PowerBuoy wave energy converter. The PowerBuoy is free floating and loosely moored to the seabed. The buoy's float moves up and down on the central spar as the waves pass.

This mechanical movement drives a hydraulic pump that forces hydraulic fluid through a rotary motor connected to an electrical generator.

Fred. Olsen Ltd of Norway has developed a unique multiple point-absorber system for energy extraction from the waves.

A number of floating buoys attached to a light and stable floating platform manufactured in composites converts the wave energy to electricity. A 1:3 scale research platform, named 'Buldra', has been in operation and performed tests since 2004.

MJ Information No: 21514