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The Technology
The Pelamis Wave Energy Converter is the result of many years of engineering
development by PWP. It was the world’s first commercial scale machine to
generate electricity to the grid from offshore wave energy and the first to
be used commercially.
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The Pelamis
The Pelamis absorbs the energy of ocean waves and
converts it into electricity. The machine sits ‘snake-like’ on the surface
of the water, comprising a number of cylindrical sections joined together by
hinged joints. As waves pass down the length of the machine these sections
flex relative to one another. The motion at each joint is resisted by
hydraulic cylinders which pump fluid into high pressure accumulators
allowing electrical generation to be smooth and continuous. Control of the
resistance applied by the hydraulic cylinders allows generation to be
maximised when waves are small, and the machine response to be minimised in
storms. All generation systems are sealed and dry inside the machines and
power is transmitted to shore using standard subsea cables and equipment.
The Pelamis is an offshore wave energy converter, operating in water depths
greater than 50m, usually 2-10km from the coast.
Key Features:
- Survivability
The long, thin shape of the Pelamis means that as waves get higher, the
small cross-sectional area and low drag profile allows it to
progressively dive under the wave crests – much like a surfer dives
through a wave. Pelamis responds to wave curvature, not height. Since
waves naturally get longer as they get higher, this inherently limits
the range of motion the machine must move through.
- Efficient Power Capture
The patented joint configuration allows the response to be tuned to
incoming waves to maximise generation in small seas while defaulting to
minimised
response in heavy seas. The Pelamis sections interact with each other to
give a focussed beam of radiated waves that can capture the incidence
waves much
more effectively than a single body.
- Modular Manufacture
The Pelamis is an assembly of proven technology, supported by a scalable
supply chain with capability to deliver components to specification,
quality and time.
- Design Verified and Insured
The design of the Pelamis and its anchoring systems are independently
verified to meet relevant offshore oil & gas codes and standards.
- Minimum shoreline impact
The Pelamis is one of the most environmentally benign forms of
electricity generation. The semi-submerged machine has a low visual
profile.
- Minimum offshore work
The Pelamis is manufactured, commissioned and maintained offsite in
sheltered
waters. A comprehensive remote monitoring and control system and
patented
rapid ‘hands free’ attachment and removal system is used to remove the
need for
manned access offshore.
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P2 in the Forth
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P2 on tow in the Firth of Forth
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Function
The Pelamis has five tube sections linked by hinged
joints. Floating
on the sea surface, incoming waves cause the tube sections to move
relative to one another, causing bending movements at the joints of
the machine. This movement is resisted by hydraulic cylinders which
pump fluid into high pressure storage accumulators allowing
electricity generation to be smooth and continuous. Hydraulic motors
drive generators to produce electricity. All equipment is housed
inside the machine and power is transmitted to shore using standard
subsea cables. Several machines can be connected together and
linked to shore through a single subsea cable.
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Mechanics
POWER MODULES
There are four independent power modules, one per joint. The power modules
contain all the power take off and conversion equipment. All main components
have inbuilt redundancy increasing fault tolerance.
UNIVERSAL JOINTS
Each joint has two degrees of freedom with four hydraulic cylinders.
MACHINE CONNECTION & ANCHORING SYSTEM
The machine is connected to its onsite anchoring and electrical systems via
a rapid subsea attachment system located at the end of the yoke, which hangs
vertically when the machine is installed. This allows the machine to be
quickly and safely installed and removed on site in a range of sea states
and using non-specialised vessels, enabling maintenance to be carried out at
the quayside. |
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E.ON P2 in Orkney
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P2 moored at Ocean Terminal
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P2 and Royal Yacht Britannia
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Three P1A devices at Agucadoura
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7th scale model
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SPR build
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P2 tube launch
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Prototype on tow in the Forth
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Projects
Pelamis Wave Power have established a pipeline of commercial projects from
machine testing through to full scale commercial arrays. Our projects
include customer, joint venture and PWP led developments.
PWP’s dedicated project development team have expertise in a range of areas,
including; resource modeling, site selection, environmental impact
assessments, consenting, engineering design & offshore operations.
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E.ON at EMEC
Photo: E.ON’s Pelamis P2 at EMEC, April 2011.
Client: E.ON UK
Project: Deployment and testing of first P2 Pelamis generator.
Location: EMEC North berth, 2km west of Orkney Mainland.
Capacity: 0.75 MW The E.ON project, located off the west coast of
the Orkney mainland, is testing a P2 Pelamis machine over three years at the
European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC). Designed and built by PWP and owned by
E.ON, the P2 machine is the first of a second generation of Pelamis wave
energy converters and the first wave machine to be sold in the UK.
The machine will be joined by a second P2 Pelamis owned by ScottishPower
Renewables later in 2011. The two utilities have a working agreement to
maximise the learning from operating and maintaining the machines as a wave
farm.
The testing or ‘work-up’ programme is structured through a series of weather
states, each with progressively higher wave heights. The Pelamis machine
will be tested over a defined period of time in each state before graduating
to the next. This approach allows progressive management of risk for the
technology, and ability to find and handle any unexpected technical issues
as they arise.
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ScottishPower Renewables at EMEC
Client: ScottishPower Renewables
Project: Deployment and testing of a P2 Pelamis machine.
Location: EMEC North middle berth, 2km off the west coast of the
Orkney mainland, Scotland.
Capacity: 0.75 MW Continuing the presence of Pelamis technology at
EMEC, ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) has ordered a P2 Pelamis machine for
demonstration and test. The project will utilise the existing electrical
subsea cables, substation and grid connection. The Scottish Government has
provided funding for the project through the WATES scheme and consent via
Section 36 of the Electricity Act.
The order from SPR is the second commercial order for PWP’s 2nd generation
Pelamis machine and will be installed alongside E.ON’s machine which began
tests in 2010. SPR and E.ON have a joint working agreement to maximise the
learning from operating and mainting the machines as a wave farm.
The experience gained from this project will play a vital role in
ScottishPower Renewables plans to install 66 Pelamis machines in a 50MW
project off Marwick Head in Orkney, for which an agreement for lease has
been awarded by the Crown Estate.
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Aegir – Shetland
Client: Vattenfall
Project: Up to 14 Pelamis machines
Location: 1-10km off the west coast of mainland Shetland, Scotland
Capacity: 10MW Pelamis Wave Power and Vattenfall, one of the
largest utilities in Europe, have launched a joint venture to develop the
first wave power project off the Shetland Islands.
The joint venture company, called Aegir Wave Power, has secured an Agreement
for Lease to develop a 10MW Pelamis farm off the southwest coast of
Shetland.
Shetland has been selected as a key strategic location for deployment of
wave power technology due to the world class resource, combined with the
existing skill set and infrastructure that complement the future
requirements of the nascent marine energy industry. The current plans for a
HVDC link to allow electricity export from Shetland to the Scottish mainland
has made a commercial scale wave energy project on Shetland possible.
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CEO at Aguçadoura
Client: EDP & Efacec
Location: 5km off the Atlantic coastline of northern Portugal
(substation at Aguçadoura)
Project: Agucadoura phase 2
Capacity: 20MW phased installation, with scope for expansion
Aguçadoura was the location of the world’s first wave farm. Installed and
operated in 2008, the three Pelamis machine farm was a joint project between
Portuguese utility Enersis and PWP under the joint venture company Companhia
da Energia Oceânica SA (CEO).
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Bernera Wave Farm
Client: Pelamis Wave Power
Location: Off the west coast of Great Bernera, Western Isles,
Scotland
Project: Up to 26 Pelamis machines
Capacity: Up to 20MW Pelamis Wave Power is proposing to develop a
significant wave energy project off Lewis in the Outer Hebrides called the
Bernera Wave Farm. The Bernera Wave Farm Project could potentially connect
up to 20MW of capacity by 2014/15. The development would constitute a major
early milestone for the marine energy sector; and help unlock the massive
wave energy potential off the Western Isles.
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Farr Point Wave Farm
Developer: Pelamis Wave Power
Location: Off the north coast of Sutherland, Scotland
Capacity: Phase 1 – 7.5MW / Phase 2 – up to 50MW The Farr Point
Wave Farm project is located between 3 – 12 km of the north coast of the
Scottish mainland, close to Bettyhill in Sutherland.
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