Leading energy provider E.ON has formally unveiled its first UK wave power generator. The machine, designed and constructed by Pelamis, is capable of generating 750kW of renewable energy and will be installed and tested at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond officially launched and named the Vagr Atferd (Norse for wave power) P2 wave energy converter at Leith Port, Edinburgh. The machine, designed and constructed by Pelamis, is capable of generating 750kW of renewable energy and will be installed and tested at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.
"We're delighted to be a part of such an innovative project," said E.ON chief executive Dr Paul Golby. "The event marks a milestone in marine technology and the next exciting step for renewable energy in the UK. It's essential that we continue to invest in new technologies, like the Vagr Atferd, to harness the power of nature and to accelerate our transition to a low carbon economy."
Installation of the Pelamis wave energy converter at EMEC will be the first time that the P2 machine has been tested anywhere in the world and also represents the UK's first commercial supply contract within the marine energy sector. The device is 180m long — or as long as the Gherkin building in London is tall — and weighs around 1500 tonnes.
