Oyster test rig used at NaREC (Image credit: Aquamarine Power)

Aquamarine's Oyster system has successfully been tested in real conditions. The device has produced and exported electricity to the grid at the New and Renewable Energy Center (NaREC), near Newcastle, UK. Having produced electricity onshore on a full scale test rig, the company has proven that the Oyster system can deliver power on a commercial scale. Total output from a
single pumping cylinder was 170 kW of electricity, which proves that a full scale device with two pumping cylinders could easily produce more than double that.

Just to recap, the system is unique in the sense that it can generate electricity in very calm seas, as well as during the worst of storms, which makes the system a very flexible source of power, able to provide a commercial scale electricity supply.

The test device was put through a rigorous set of test conditions which simulate real sea conditions. The tests were designed to ensure the viability and reliability of the system and its components. Testing started at NaREC in March this year, and will finish at the end of April, while Aquamarine does fine tuning and system optimization. The pumped water is fed directly onto an onshore Pelton hydroturbine, connected to an electricity generator.

As covered before, the first full scale installation of the Oyster is planned for this summer at the Orkney based European Marine Energy Centre. Aquamarine has agreements with Scottish and Southern Energy and Airtricity to develope Oyster based power plants capable of outputting 1 GW of power by 2020.