THE OTHER LOCH NESS MONSTER

Back to the Future with New Wave Energy Device from AWS; Prototype being tested in Loch Ness
25 May 2010 (Process and Control Today)

"Scottish marine energy technology developer, AWS Ocean Energy, has started testing its new wave energy device in Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands.

"…[It] has deployed a 1/9th scale of its AWS-III device, a ring-shaped multi-cell surface-floating wave power system, the result of almost two years of intensive research and development work. AWS Ocean Energy is aiming to deploy a full-system prototype AWS-III during 2012 and a pre-commercial demonstrator plant during 2013…"

AWS-III on the Loch. (click to enlarge)

"A single utility-scale AWS-III, measuring around 60 metres in diameter, will be capable of generating up to 2.5 Megawatts (MW) of continuous power…[and be] an affordable solution to generating bulk power from the ocean waves…[T]he company earlier this year secured a £2.3 million investment from Scottish Enterprise’s Scottish Co-investment Fund and the Shell Technology Ventures Fund 1 B.V and…[is pursuing] further financial support…in Scotland.

"…No electricity will be generated by the 1/9th scale device [in the Loch Ness test] but it will provide [key] design data and confirm the AWS-III’s revenue generation potential. The company will then build and deploy a full-scale single cell in order to prove the durability of the diaphragms prior to launching a 12-cell, 2.5MW pre-commercial demonstrator in 2012. Subject to financing and planning consents, the company plans to have a 10MW pre-commercial demonstration farm operating in 2014…"

click to enlarge

"The design and deployment of the AWS-III is the culmination of eight years research and development…AWS Ocean Energy deployed its first Archimedes Waveswing test device in 2004 (off Portugal) and designed a second generation device in 2008…[T]he company decided that further work was required to develop a third-generation system which could provide utility-scale levels of power and be competitive with other forms of renewables, in particular offshore wind generation…

"The company’s path towards commercial deployment is being supported by a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) which includes some of the most respected figures in the offshore engineering and renewable energy industries…In parallel with the development of the AWS-III, the company is developing associated, patented technologies such as remote mooring systems and believes there is significant potential for manufacturing key components in Scotland…"