Wave energy technology developer CorPower Ocean has secured a berth agreement to develop the UK’s largest wave energy array at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland. The 5 MW project is set for deployment in 2029 and will feature 14 advanced wave energy converters (WECs) at EMEC’s grid-connected Billia Croo test site.
Each WEC will utilise a 9-metre diameter spherical composite hull, designed to harness the power of ocean waves through CorPower Ocean’s proprietary WaveSpring technology. This system amplifies energy capture in moderate sea states and includes a robust storm protection mechanism that locks down the devices during extreme conditions, ensuring both safety and maintenance access.
The array is expected to operate for up to 15 years, making it the largest and most enduring wave energy project in the UK to date. Before the full-scale rollout, CorPower Ocean will install three additional WECs as a smaller-scale demonstration, further validating the technology and operational processes.
Local manufacturing is central to the project, with hulls and subsystems slated for production in Orkney. This approach aims to cut emissions, reduce transport costs, and create skilled jobs, bolstering the local economy and supply chain.
This initiative follows CorPower Ocean’s successful testing history at EMEC, including the C3 device at Scapa Flow in 2018 and the C4 device off Portugal, where it survived waves over 18 metres high and delivered power to the national grid.
