Mocean Energy’s Blue Horizon begins EuropeWave testing

Phase 1 of the €20m programme has seen initial backing for seven different wave technologies, with Mocean and the other developers now developing their concepts and validating performance with tank testing and simulation.

Mocean will take part in an eight-day test run at the University of Edinburgh’s FloWave facility, where 3D-printed scale models of Blue Horizon will be tested in conditions that mimic both the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney and the Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP) in Spain. The final phase of EuropeWave will see three of the seven technologies selected to undergo prototype testing at EMEC and BiMEP.

“The purpose of our testing is to validate our numerical models and the hydrodynamic performance of our 250kW design,” explained Chris Retzler, founder and chief scientist at Mocean Energy.

"We already have a huge amount of real-world data from our 10kW Blue X prototype which was deployed successfully at EMEC last year. This is now being developed into our commercial 20kW Blue Star device which will provide autonomous power to a range of subsea equipment, inspection and maintenance systems.