Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPT) announced that the PB40 has received final permit approval from the New York District Army Corps of Engineers. In addition, after receiving permit approval, the Company has also provided the required notice periods to the U.S. Coast Guard and other parties involved in the permitting process. The PB40 PowerBuoy® will be deployed approximately 30 nautical miles southeast of the New York City Harbor. Buoy operation is planned at this location, including the gathering of operating performance and wave data for up to one year, in accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management requirements.
The PB40 is a 40 kW-peak power self-powered wave energy harvesting system designed for both stand-alone autonomous (off-grid) or integrated network applications with higher average power requirements >1kW. A typical average power range is on the order of 9 – 15 kW, depending on the deployment site. A small network of PB40s can be utilized to provide higher power with higher availability to more power-intensive offshore applications such as pipeline valve operators, compressors, and pipeline heaters.
The high performance wave energy conversion system generates power in even moderate wave environments. The spar buoy design provides a stable and robust platform ideal for the motion-sensitive sensors. The design is rugged and accounts for extreme ocean conditions and against external aggression. The platform stability combined with sustained electric power supply enables increased measurement and surveillance capabilities to ocean observing and defense & security applications.
The PB40 is equipped with remote monitoring and diagnostic capabilities allowing for proactive maintenance strategies, thus increasing availability and operational effectiveness. It supports communications by Wi-Fi, cellular, and satellite.
George Kirby, President and Chief Executive Officer of OPT commented, "I am happy to say that we remain on track to meet the deliverables that we set out earlier this year. We are excited to have achieved a fully permitted status which brings us significantly closer to deployment. We have begun the process of deploying mooring lines for the buoy and are monitoring for a suitable weather window for buoy deployment. The upcoming deployment of the PB40 will provide invaluable performance data and will continue to deepen OPT's expertise in the use of renewable Marine Hydrokinetic devices of various sizes in providing autonomous (gridindependent) power for customers in the ocean observing, offshore wind, oil & gas, and security and defense markets. We believe this deployment will enhance dialogue with potential customers and partners interested in enabling and cost-effective energy solutions for their offshore energy needs."
Mr. Kirby also acknowledged the role that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) along with the European Union (EU) and consortium partners played in developing the PB40 PowerBuoy.
