Aquamarine Power's next-generation Oyster 800 unveiled by First Minister
13 Jul 11
The UK's leadership in the development of wave-generated power
continued apace today when Aquamarine Power invited
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond MSP to unveil Oyster 800,
our next-generation hydro-electric wave energy converter.
800kW device
At a ceremony at Burntisland Fabrications' yard at Methil, Fife,
the First Minister welcomed the advancements in wave energy
conversion being made by Aquamarine Power and unveiled the 800kW
device.
Oyster 800 will now be transported by sea from the Firth of
Forth to the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney for
installation later this summer.
Improved power output
Oyster 800 operates in the same way as Oyster 1, but we have
used data and lessons learned from the first Oyster to
significantly improve its power output, simplify installation and
allow easier routine maintenance.
We have modified the shape of Oyster and made the device wider
to enable it to capture more wave energy. It is now mounted on two
seabed piles, rather than four to simplify installation. Oyster 800
has also been designed to make maintenance and operations easier
and more cost effective.
Burntisland Fabrications manufactured Oyster 800 at its Methil
and Arnish yards.
Oyster 800 will be the first of three devices to be installed at
EMEC, with further Oysters to be deployed in 2012 and 2013. All
three Oysters will be linked to an onshore hydro-electric plant to
form a 2.4MW array.