Mocean Energy's Blue Horizon project completes front-end engineering design and further tank testing during Phase 2
Mocean Energy has successfully completed the front-end-engineering-design (FEED) of its 250kW Blue Horizon wave energy converter during Phase 2, reaching a technology readiness level (TRL) 5 (1-9 TRL scale). The wave energy converter (WEC) will be able to generate electricity and connect to both of EuropeWave’s open-sea test sites – the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland, and the Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP) in Spain.
During this nine-month phase, key innovations were introduced across device geometry, power take off, moorings, and operations. These were accompanied by rigorous design and engineering activities, leading to a full system basis of design definition and the selection of a manufacturer for the first-of-a-kind build and commissioning, Texo in Dundee, Scotland. The WEC and its systems are being designed to industry standards, such as DNV. The WEC can be deployed solo or in farms; Mocean and its partners began to scope and identify suitable array configurations for early farm deployments.
In addition, further tank testing conducted at the FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility, University of Edinburgh, Scotland has allowed Mocean to further refine and validate their models, looking specifically at optimum power production and survivability of the Blue Horizon WEC in the actual sea states it could experience at the BiMEP or EMEC test sites.
Blue Horizon is a mid-scale wave energy converter primarily designed to deliver power to remote and island communities. This new 250kW design is a much bigger machine than Mocean’s original Blue X design, measuring 2.5 times longer and generating 25 times as much power. A first-of-a-kind device would be built and tested at full-scale in the final phase of the EuropeWave program.
Commercial opportunities for Blue Horizon extend across islands & remote communities, off-grid and early grid-scale projects, in locations ranging from Europe to the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Chile. A diverse industry advisory panel provided stakeholder guidance to Mocean during Phase 2. The company hopes to continue this engagement in Phase 3, as it looks to crucial elements of development beyond the technical domain, such as project development, societal, environmental, and regulatory considerations, as well as a robust roadmap to extend the growing industry momentum.