A new wave energy device is to be tested at Wave Hub after securing €17 million (£12.7 million) of European funding.
The five-year Clean Energy From Ocean Waves (CEFOW) project is being coordinated by Nordic company Fortum and will involve a new design of wave energy converter called the ‘Penguin’, designed by Finnish firm Wello.
The University of Exeter will coordinate biodiversity research at the Wello Penguin installation site to determine how the device interacts with the marine environment.
The Exeter researchers will work closely with colleagues at Plymouth University and Uppsala University.
Dr Matthew Witt, from the Environment and Sustainability Institute at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus, said: “The project partners all bring unique areas of expertise to the biodiversity research we will be conducting at the Penguin wave energy converter.
“We will work in close coordination on several aspects of the work including acoustic and seabed biodiversity research.”
The joint project partners are Fortum, Wello Ltd, Mojo Maritime Ltd, Wave Hub Limited, Green Marine (UK) Ltd, Uppsala University, Plymouth University and the University of Exeter.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
