Wave power device arrives

Following its manufacture and testing in Leith, ScottishPower Renewables’ new P2 Pelamis wave power device set sail for Orkney on Sunday, and arrived at Lyness earlier today.

The P2 is the second generation machine developed by Pelamis Wave Power, and is expected to be considerably more efficient than the first generation machine.

A single P2 device can generate 750kW of electricity – and throughout the year, provide enough power to supply approximately 500 homes. It will join another P2 Pelamis machine installed in Orkney last year by E.ON. This collaborative approach is seen as a step forward for the marine energy industry.

The two machines will operate in tandem, allowing the companies to better understand how an array of devices would operate. The information gathered from the trials will help the companies to consider how larger, more commercial schemes could be designed.