Ocean Energy USA, a subsidiary of the Irish company Ocean Energy, has installed its advanced 1.25 MWwave energy device at the U.S. Navy’s Wave Energy Test Site (WETS) located in Hawaii. This innovation, which is part of an ambitious project in the field of renewable energy, will soon be connected to the Hawaii’s Hawaii’s power grid via a submarine cable, once the commissioning and testing phase is completed.
OE-35 wave energy device anchored in Hawaii
On the other hand, the OE-35, as this 826-ton device has been named, has impressive dimensions of 125 by 59 feet and a draft of more than 30 feet, allowing it to generate a nominal power of up to 1.25 MW. It is currently anchored north of the Mōkapu Peninsula in Kaneohe Bay, where it was towed from Honolulu on July 19, 2024.
Construction and final assembly of the OceanEnergy OE-35. Source: OceanEnergy via YouTube.
In addition, this project, which has required an investment of $12 million, has received financial support from both the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). This collaboration underscores the commitment of the U.S. and Irish governments to advance marine hydrokinetic technology.
Finally, Tony Lewis, Ocean Energy’s chief technology officer, highlighted the significance of the project. After more than fifteen years dedicated to the design, testing and construction of the OE-35, the construction of the OE-35, its commissioning represents a significant step towards the commercialization of this technology. According to Lewis,“this project of international importance comes at a critical time for both countries, when it is essential to accelerate the decarbonization process with new and innovative energy solutions“.
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Source: oedigital
Photos: Oceanenergy