A recent tank-testing programme has produced results that are highly significant for the commercial viability of the OWEL Grampus Wave Energy converter (WEC).

Director, Professor John Kemp, explains that the OWEL WEC uses the horizontal component of wave action to compress the air in successive wave troughs and thence to drive a turbine.  A target efficiency of 30% for wave to air power conversion, combined with 80% for air to electrical power conversion would provide a wave to wire efficiency of some 25%.

These figures, together with the low capital costs and particularly low operational costs of the OWEL WECs allow the production of electrical power at a price that is comparable to offshore wind turbines, - estimated at around £100 per MWh in the Carbon Trust Publication “Offshore Wind Power”.

Tank-testing trials of 1:40 scale Grampus  models recently conducted at the University of Southampton have measured wave to air power conversion efficiencies exceeding the target figure over a range of sea states. Further tank-testing and mathematical modelling is planned and it is expected that similar efficiencies can be reproduced at full scale for the broad range of sea-states to be expected at typical Atlantic Arc deployment sites.  Any increase above the original target figure for efficiency means that an OWEL platform will be able to produce power at significantly lower cost than offshore wind.

Professor Kemp is quick to point out that he does not see OWEL platforms as being in competition with offshore wind.  In fact, the  platforms will be able to host wind turbines at a fraction of the cost of providing the wind turbines with dedicated supports. Diversifying sources of renewable energy significantly improves the overall reliability and security of supply.

Offshore Wave Energy Ltd (OWEL) in association with IT Power Ltd is continuing research and development for the unique Grampus device with support from the South-West Regional Development Agency. On completion of the present phase, at the end of 2009, OWEL will be poised to commence the construction and testing of a seagoing prototype. At that stage, there will be further investment opportunities.