Wave energy developers will soon have a new way to advance their technology with the development of a new project.
The EuropeWave project aims to accelerate the design, development, and demonstration of cost-effective wave energy converter (WEC) systems to produce clean electricity.
This project is calling on wave developers to give input into its Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP), a tender which will open in June 2021.
The procurement process will select the best technologies across three key challenge areas: performance, reliability & survivability, and affordability.
This procurement process will award R&D service contracts to developers as part of a three-stage process. A competitive call for tender will be open to wave energy developers, initially to participate in the first stage of ‘concept development.’ After each stage is completed, the best of the competing solutions will be selected to progress to the following phase.
During the second stage, contractors will undertake detailed design & modelling activities. The final phase involves the manufacturing, an open-sea deployment and testing programme at specialist test sites in Scotland and the Basque Country.
Wave energy developers are invited to register their interest in the future tender via a Prior Information Notice (PIN).
7 April is the deadline for queries prior to consultation, an open consultation via a public webinar will be held on 14 April and 21 April is the deadline for queries following consultation. The call for tender opens in June 2021 and the call for tender closes in September 2021.
By Rebecca Jeffrey
