Development Milestones
Aquamarine has a dual focus: developing the Oyster™ technology, and identifying sites for developing commercial wave farms. Our development programme is scheduled to deliver several commercial wave farms first across atlantic Europe and then other oceanic coasts.There are two key commercial applications for the Oyster™ technology platform: Oyster™ Electrical Power modules and Oyster™ Desalination modules. The detailed engineering design and procurement specification for the production of electricity is nearing completion, with full scale sea trials planned during 2007.
The initial R&D for the Oyster™ Desalination module is currently underway, with a scale model test planned for 2007. Future Desalination module development will follow similar stages and milestones as the Electrical Power module.
Milestone 1 (2001 - 2004)
Concept development and model tests
Extensive wave tank tests have been completed at Queen’s University Belfast using 1/40th and 1/20th scale models of a single oscillator. Numerical modelling and performance and load test results were used to deliver the baseline design and operational loads for the Oyster™ pilot plant.
Milestone 2 (2007- 2008)
Oyster™ Demonstrator Project
Build and install a single, grid connected prototype at EMEC in Orkney to test performance and verify predictions from scale and numerical models.Milestone 3 (2007-2008)
Wave farm research and development
Tank testing, cost engineering and R&D to model and validate array performance predictions. The results will deliver the final design and configuration for Oyster™ MW wave farms.
Milestone 4: (2008-2010)
Array Demonstration as Precursor to Commercial Deployment
Build, install and test a cluster of Oyster™ modules, with an installed capacity of over 3MW as a first step deployment of further commercial farms in Europe.
Wavepower
Advanced sector-carrier wave paddles were used in the Queen's University wave tank to generate realistic sea-states during scale model testing.
Oyster™
1/40th and 1/20th scale models of Oyster have been tested at Queen's University for the last 3 years.
