In preparation for launching its Triton-C wave energy converter (WEC), Oscilla Power has completed two key preliminary steps: relocating the Triton-C and performing setup and staging activities at the launch site at the Wave Energy Test Site (WETS) in Hawaii. These steps are necessary precursors to a full, commercial-scale demonstration once work on the WETS site is completed by the U.S. Navy.
During the 12-hour effort, the Triton-C was towed from Honolulu Harbor to the grid connection point at the WETS site in Kanehoe Bay where the Triton-C will eventually be tethered for a commercial-scale demonstration. At this location the team was able to rehearse and work through some of the activities needed for the ultimate deployment. Activities included testing the ability to manually activate various systems under some of the significant motions experienced by the system. As a result, the team is now making any necessary adjustments in advance of full power performance tests in the coming weeks.
Oscilla Power’s Triton™ wave energy converter (WEC) will make ocean wave energy a cost-effective resource that can complement solar and wind in many locations worldwide including the US West Coast. The innovative design of the Triton overcomes the main limitations that have prevented ocean wave energy from being adopted previously by offering increased levels of energy capture, conversion efficiency, and survivability in the harsh ocean environment.
“It was an incredibly rewarding experience to get the Triton-C out to its final deployment location and see just how it operates, if only for a few hours,” said Tim Mundon, Chief Technology Officer of Oscilla Power. “We now know what to expect from both setup and operations as we plan for the next phase of the launch — a more expansive testing of the energy capture and power generation components of the Triton. I am proud of the entire team and our partners who have gotten us to this critical juncture.”
Perhaps most important is that the WEC is now staged only two miles away from the WETS launch site, allowing Oscilla Power to opportunistically take advantage of suitable weather and wave conditions for both further testing and the ultimate installation. The WETS site is a pre-permitted location and includes all required infrastructure, such as the subsea grid connection and moorings.