A render image of the R115 marine wave energy converter. (Credit: 40South Energy)
With the initial testing phase for the R115 marine wave energy converter (nominal capacity of 150 kW) at Punta Righini in Tuscany, Italy, successfully completed, the project now moves into the next phase.
The second phase of testing of Enel Green Power (EGP)’s R115 marine wave energy converter developed by 40South Energy, with a nominal capacity of 150 kW, has now been kick-started.
The fully assembled machine will be launched from the Port of Livorno towards Punta Righini (Castiglioncello), in the Tuscan Archipelago. The event was attended by the Chief Executive Officer of EGP, Francesco Starace and by the CEO of 40South Energy, Michele Grassi.
The new converter was designed and built for Enel Green Power, the Enel Group renewables company and by 40South Energy, a UK-based hydrokinetic developer. The machine ensures full integration into the marine environment and ease of maintenance.
Once fully operating, each of the R115 family converters will be able to generate around 220 thousand kW·h per year, enough power to meet the needs of more than 80 households.
The results of the initial phase of testing confirmed the expected performance of the machine in a marine environment and the extreme ease of its installation. Furthermore, the testing revealed a number of refinements for making the machine more durable in water. Armed with this field experience, the partners are continuing to work on optimizing the materials and structure of the machine with the goal of soon installing other machines of the same class in the Mediterranean Sea and in an ocean environment, particularly off the coasts of Chile and the United States.
As a result of this successful testing, EGP and 40South Energy further strengthened their technological partnership in order to develop, through 40South Energy, a new wave energy converter with a nominal capacity of 2 MW, building upon the operational systems employed and maintaining the essential features of the model currently being tested.
