The pioneering Wave Hub marine energy project in England has been ‘plugged in’ for the first time since its installation over the summer and is officially open for business.
Wave Hub has created the world’s largest test site for wave energy technology by building a grid-connected socket on the seabed 16 kilometres off the coast of Cornwall in South West England, to which wave power devices can be connected and their performance evaluated.
The complete system has now undergone its first full test when it was connected to the grid network via a new substation that has been built at Hayle, where Wave Hub’s 33kV cable comes ashore. The system is now permanently energised and monitored, so Wave Hub is well and truly open for business.”
The £42 million Wave Hub project has been developed by the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency) and is a cornerstone of its strategy to develop a world class marine energy industry in South West England and the UK.
Wave Hub is being funded with £12.5 million from the South West RDA, £20 million from the European Regional Development Fund Convergence Programme and £9.5 million from the UK government.
Wave Hub’s first customer will be Ocean Power Technologies, using its PowerBuoy wave energy converter.