300kW wave energy generator back-on-track

Earlier this year, CorPower found cable damage at the site, recovered the cable using remotely-operated vehicles and construction vessels, and refurbished the link.

“With the site infrastructure restored, CorPower Ocean has resumed the deployment programme by testing operational methods for connecting and disconnecting its C4 device,” said the company. “This follows the installation of the anchor and subsea cables in mid-2022, and C4 assembly and pre-deployment check at the quay-side in Viana do Castelo in December 2022.”

C4 is huge, at 9m in diameter, and is expected to generate 300kW.

The aim is to mate C4 with its anchor using a fully surface-operated sequence – the interface to the anchor has quick connections for power export and data communication to an on-land substation, where a system is used for remote monitoring and control.

In the next programme phase, generator safety and control will be tested, as well as grid function. First power export to the Portuguese grid will follow.

“As we work to introduce a new power source to the world, our everyday life consists of problem solving and removing various obstacles, both big and small,” said CorPower Ocean CEO Patrik Möller. “Often this involves auxiliary functions not directly related to the core technology, with the export cable being a recent example. We always try to plan for the unplannable, and to be prepared to address new challenges along the way in a methodical manner. Developing new technology is an endurance sport and a discipline we have been honing through a structured verification program for more than a decade.”