Scapa Flow scale test site | European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)
European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)
| Lead Organisation | European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) |
| Country | UK |
| Type | Wave, Subsea components |
| Website | https://www.emec.org.uk |
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Type of Testing Wave, Subsea components Year Established 2011 Temperate/Tropical Temperate Commercial/Array/Full scale/Scale Scale Development Status Operational Overview
EMEC’s scale test sites were established following securing funding from the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change (replaced by the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy). These have been sited and designed to allow developers to trial scale marine energy devices or device components – as well as full size prototypes – in less challenging sea conditions than those experienced at EMEC’s full-scale test sites at Billia Croo and the Fall of Warness.
The site in Scapa Flow, to the south of Kirkwall, was chosen for its relatively benign waters which each around 0.35m significant wave height. The site has a predominantly westerly wave regime in 21m-25m water, in an area 0.4km across and approximately 0.9km in length.
Operational data will be communicated via the SCADA interface; transmitted by air from a communications buoy at each test site. Unlike the larger, established, wave and tidal test sites the scale test sites will not be connected to the grid and there will be no cabling from the test berths to shore nor will there be any onshore infrastructure provided by EMEC in close proximity to the test site. -
Number of Berths 2 Water Depth 21-25m Min Water Depth (m) 21 Max Water Depth (m) 25 Avg Water Depth (m) Annual mean significant wave height 0.38m Maximum recorded wave height Mean (averaged current speed) <0.2 m/s Maximum current speed Maximum tidal range Mean wind speed Max wind speed Seabed type Flat muddy sands with scattered shells and pebbles Total test area (km2) 0.36 Distance to land Grid connected N Grid connection capacity Rated export capacity and connection Proximity to nearest harbour (km) 8km (Scapa Pier) -
Demonstration Projects
R&D Projects
Infrastructure
One berth with pre-laid foundation and attachment points, and adjacent blank test area. If required, the device under test will be connected to a test support buoy via two umbilical cables; one for power transmission and the other for control and communications.
Anchor points: The pre-laid foundations on each berth comprise 5 gravity-base frames loaded with densecrete blocks for equipment moorings.
Test Support Buoy: The buoy can relay data by wireless technology. The buoys can also be equipped to supply the marine energy devices on test with power, simulated grid, and act as navigational aids.
SCADA (SCADA system : EMEC: European Marine Energy Centre)
Office facilities at Warness Park, Kirkwall.Equipment available to support site deployments
3 Datawell Directional Waverider® buoys (live data)
Baseline surveys:- Hydrographic survey
- Resource Surveys
- Wildlife observations
- Environmental Scoping
- Acoustic survey
Services of test programmes offered on site
Key supply chain companies in the region
Supply chain at: www.orkneymarinerenewables.com