Fabrication of a giant barge-like wave energy device is underway in Portland, Ore., in preparation for testing in Hawaii this summer.
The hull for the 125-ft-long by 59-ft-wide, 86-ton OE Buoy—with potential rated capacity of more than 1 MW in electrical power production—is complete. At Portland-based Vigor Marine, crews are assembling and fitting the device and installing the power take-off system, expected to take up to 10 weeks.