EMEC berth for Laminaria

Laminaria’s technology – a surge operated attenuator – has a bespoke storm protection system build in to enhance the survivability of the device, allowing it to remain operational during storm events.

Scale sea trials are already underway in Belgium to inform the design for the full-scale device that will undergo performance testing at EMEC in 2017. Laminaria will be the first Belgian company to test at EMEC’s test sites.

Laminaria was founded in 2011 with the aim to develop a deep water wave energy converter. Later in the process a shallow water version of the technology was developed.

On both technologies a feasibility study was performed with support of IWT and the Port of Ostend. Both technologies showed promise, however the choice was made to first develop the shallow water technology as it has more potential for exploitation. Following the feasibility study a project was started to test a fully functional ¼ scale model at sea. A consortium of Multitech, Port of Ostend and Laminaria received support of IWT and CEIP to develop, build and test the prototype. The device was tested over a 1 year period about 1km out the coast of Ostend. The tests were concluded with success in September 2015 providing proof of concept of the technology at sea.

EMEC Managing Director, Neil Kermode, said: “We have been pleased to welcome several visitors from the region of Flanders to EMEC recently, demonstrating an active interest in marine energy development for their impressive maritime community.

“We’re delighted to now announce that Laminaria will be testing their Flemish wave energy converter at EMEC, and look forward to working with them, and seeing the technology further develop as they move from Ostend to Orkney.”

Laminaria’s CEO Steven Nauwelaerts, said: “By combining the expertise built up in Scotland over the last decade and the novel approach of Laminaria, we can put wave energy on the road to success. The aim is to create a win-win situation by supplying the Scottish grid with clean reliable energy and creating employment in Flanders in the development and construction of the devices.”

Geert Bourgeois, Minister-President of Flanders, said: “In the last few years, Flemish company Laminaria has developed innovative technology for a wave energy converter, in collaboration with a string of partners in Flanders, such as the University of Ghent and the Port of Ostend, and with support of the Flemish Agency for Innovation by Science & Technology.

“I am very pleased that this renewable energy technology can take a further step in its development in collaboration with Scottish partners with their excellent expertise in marine energy and state of the art facilities. I wish this nascent partnership the best of luck and success, as it is a fine example of a very promising cooperation, linking Flanders and Scotland.”

Established in 2003, EMEC is the world’s leading facility for testing wave and tidal energy converters in real sea conditions. The centre offers independent, accredited grid-connected test berths for full-scale prototypes, as well as test sites in less challenging conditions for use by smaller scale technologies, supply chain companies, and equipment manufacturers.

To date, more marine energy converters have been deployed in Orkney, Scotland, than at any other single site in the world: EMEC has hosted 16 wave and tidal energy clients (with 25 marine energy devices) spanning 9 countries.

By Jake Frith