Pelamis Wave Power today completed the launch of the five sections of their latest P2 Pelamis wave energy converter. On order from ScottishPower Renewables, the 750kW rated machine is being manufactured at PWP’s headquarters in Leith Docks, Edinburgh. The launch process involves moving the sections, one at a time, from the fabrication hall to the quayside where they are lifted into the water by two 500 Tonne cranes lifting in tandem. The transportation and lift were carried out by heavy lift specialists Mammoet.
Speaking after the launch, Project Manager Jacob Ahlqvist said, “We’re very proud of our achievement in building this machine within such a tight schedule and with so few problems. The launch process went extremely smoothly and we’ve managed to halve the time taken for this process, compared with the launch of the E.ON machine last year.”
After commissioning in Leith, the new Pelamis will be towed north to join the first P2 Pelamis, built last year for E.ON. Under a working agreement between ScottishPower Renewables and E.ON, both machines will generate to the national grid from their adjacent berths at the European Marine Energy Centre off Orkney, with PWP’s local operations base providing monitoring and maintenance support.