Assembly has started in Portugal for what will be the world’s first commercial wave-power system under a $10-million contract with a Scottish supplier. If the initial three 750-kW units perform as hoped, the Portuguese utility intends to buy 28 more, says the vendor.
Edinburgh-based Ocean Power Delivery Ltd. early this month shipped out the third unit for assembly at Port of Peniche, north of Lisbon, says business development director Max Carcas. Moored 5 kilometers offshore, the “Pelamis” machines will be owned and operated by a joint venture led by renewables developer Enersis II SGPS S.A., Lisbon.