During August and September 2015, Sound & Sea Technology, Inc. (SST) has managed and participated in the assembly and systems integration of the first Wave Energy Conversion (WEC) device for the U.S. Navy’s Kaneohe Bay Wave Energy Test Site (WETS) in Hawaii.
Since May 2015, SST has been assembling and integrating components for the Fred. Olsen Ltd. Lifesaver Energy Platform in preparation for eventual offshore deployment and testing at WETS. The Lifesaver Energy Platform (LEP) is an advanced electro‐mechanical point absorber WEC platform that uses unique point absorber hull and leading‐edge power take‐off (PTO) configurations.
The Lifesaver Energy Platform will be tested and evaluated for approximately six months at WETS. The device was previously tested in waters off the United Kingdom and is one of the most advanced devices in the industry. The Lifesaver Energy Platform is the first WEC device to be deployed at one of the new WETS deep water test berths and is the result of the Navy’s interest in advancing renewable energy for Department of Defense applications.
As the Prime Contractor for WETS, SST has provided engineering support services to the Navy to upgrade and expand WETS since 2012. This includes technical input for operations and installation, mooring analyses and design, environmental and geotechnical site reviews, power cable testing and analysis, grid connection component design, power grid studies, preliminary and final WETS system design specifications, and execution of the WETS infrastructure installation process.
The system is designed to be easily transported and then fully assembled at or near an installation site.
As of October 1, the Lifesaver Energy Platform is ready for installation at WETS after being assembled at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam (JBPHH). The WEC is currently at temporary storage waterside at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) Kaneohe awaiting final environmental documentation.
Image: SST