Wave Energy Scotland (WES)

In 2015 the Scottish Government set up WES (Wave Energy Scotland) as a technology development body. It’s main task is to boost wave energy development in Scotland. WES is a subsidiary of HIE (Highlands and Islands Enterprise). The organisation is presently managing a number of wave power projects aimed at harnessing the wave power potential off of Scotland’s coasts. It has acquired the intellectual property of the now defunct Pelamis Wave Power (previously Ocean Power Delivery).

                                 Current Projects

There have been new developments in wave power in the Orkney Islands. There are three machine projects currently underway here. The first is known as Blue X run by Mocean Energy, the second is ATIR can produce 1.5 megawatts (MW). The third known as Orbital O2 is planned to produce some 2 megawatts (MW). Orbital O2 is 240 feet long and weighs 650 tons. The wave turbines are situated on two sea wings, each of which has a pitched rotor blade of 65-foot diameter on them. These blades utilise the tide as it runs from both directions. An advantage of the Orbital O2 design is that maintenance can be done on the surface as both the wings and turbines can be raised to the surface for this work to be carried out. This is a considerable improvement on earlier designs which required underwater maintenance or a return to port.

                                        The Two Consortia

WES has also commissioned two consortia with £1 million for projects that aim to bring down the cost of wave power. That is to demonstrate the use of new materials to help reduce the present cost of wave energy. One of the consortia is the Arup consortium. Which is working on using pre-cast reinforced concrete in a variety of wave technologies. The other consortia is Tension Technology International. This will seek to advance the design of their flexible buoyant pod which is encapsulated in a fibre rope net.

                                     Future Wave Projects

Future wave farm projects around Scotland could involve an arrangement of interlinked 1 megawatt (MW) machines. These will be connected to the shore by a subsea transmission cable. Using this new technology it will be possible to produce cost effective wave generation. Wave Power in Scotland will form a vital component of the renewable energy industry in the future.