Bombora has joined forces with Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s marine energy engineering center of excellence (MEECE) in Wales to begin a research project on floating wave technology.

The research will perform a techno-economic evaluation of the extension of Bombora’s mWave technology to an offshore setting and will examine the co-location feasibility with floating wind structures.

The patented Bombora membrane mWave wave energy converter offers a unique opportunity to quickly develop a solution for a floating wave platform. This solution offers considerable advantages in terms of increased use of the infrastructure and maximizing capacity.

“We believe Bombora’s mWave technology offers an innovative solution that can meet the demands of the rapidly expanding offshore energy industry and reduce the levelized cost of energy. Increasing the cost effectiveness of projects by sharing the expense of joint infrastructure, such as the floating platform, moorings and export grid connection to shore will inevitably drive down costs.  Our research project with ORE Catapult is an important development stage to prove this potentially market disruptive solution.“

Sam Leighton, MD of Bombora.

“This collaborative project cuts right to the heart of two important areas for innovation in offshore renewable energy right now – the development of wave energy and floating wind. To unlock the potential of co-locating these two technologies could be potentially game-changing for the sector.

“Wales is the ideal location for this type of innovative project, being home to a number of wave and tidal developers and a prime location for floating wind development. We will apply our unique combination of technical expertise and research and testing facilities at MEECE to support innovative projects such as these and companies like Bombora.“

Dr. Paul Ellsmore, MEECE programme manager for ORE Catapult.

Bombora’s 1.5MW mWave Pembrokeshire Demonstration Project, financed with £10.3 million through the Welsh Government by the European Regional Development Fund is on schedule. Full marine consent has been given for installation off the Pembrokeshire coast as the project moves into the assembly phase.

Taking mWave further offshore would increase the technology’s potential and open up new markets and opportunities for generating large-scale utilities.

“Collaborating with a world-class research and test institution such as ORE Catapult’s MEECE places Bombora at a big advantage to capitalize on the floating offshore market opportunity. We are committed to driving innovation in the renewable energy sector and to making the advancements needed to benefit the environment and consumers.“

Chris Williams, commercial manager Bombora.

The UK has enough natural resources of offshore wind, wave, and tide to provide all the country’s energy requirements, including transport and heating, with spare for export to Europe.

Global investment in offshore wind projects is expected to reach £250bn between now and 2030.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) suggests global offshore wind generating capacity will be in excess of 500 GW by 2050.
Global investment in offshore wind projects between now and 2030 is likely to exceed £250bn.

Offshore renewable energy is on course to provide much of the affordable and secure power needed to grow the UK economy and, when combined with the global export potential, represents the largest clean growth opportunity for the UK economy.