Nova Innovation wins share of £1.4m wave energy funding
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A quick connection system that builds on technology in use on a Shetland tidal array is being developed as part of a pioneering wave energy process.
Nova Innovation is among four companies which have secured almost £1.4 million to develop quick connection systems for wave energy.
Projects led by Apollo, Blackfish Engineering Design and Quoceant also secured a share of the funding from Wave Energy Scotland (WES).
Nova’s MECmate is a wet-mate connection solution specifically designed for marine energy converters (MECs), and the project builds on its proven NovaCan technology in operation at its Shetland tidal array.
Nova Innovation engineering director Gary Connor said: “We are delighted to work with Wave Energy Scotland to deliver a subsea electrical connector to be used by clients in marine energy, floating offshore wind, oil and gas, and aquaculture.
“As a marine energy developer ourselves, we know the critical importance and value of having a robust and cost-effective solution for the maritime economy.”
Tim Hurst, managing director of WES, said: “This programme will develop technology that will reduce the cost of wave and tidal energy and ultimately help marine energy play a part in Scotland’s net-zero future.
“Connecting and disconnecting devices quickly and remotely will increase safety in offshore operations, and the wider potential for these technologies is significant across offshore and subsea applications.”
From the seven stage-one projects, four projects have come through the WES stage-gate process to secure stage-two contracts in the quick connection systems programme.
The overall aim of the quick connection systems programme is to reduce the duration, cost and risk of offshore operation for wave energy converters by supporting projects to design and develop quick connection and disconnection systems between devices and moorings and/or electrical systems.
The teams aim to develop their designs during the second stage of the programme, working with partners to test and model the technology prior to scale testing in the future.
This is the latest stage-gate funding process in the WES programme, which is fully funded by the Scottish Government.
Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “This announcement represents an important step forward for Scotland’s world-leading wave energy sector. We believe that wave energy offers tremendous economic potential and can play an important role in Scotland’s response to the global climate emergency.
“I am immensely proud of the progress being made under our Wave Energy Scotland programme, which is by far the largest of its kind in the world. I congratulate all the successful teams under this funding call and look forward to seeing further progress from these projects in the months to come.”
