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‘WAVE HUB’ A Future for Wave Energy in

Cornwall

Dr Mike Patching BEng, PhD, CEng, MEI

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‘Pelamis’ - Wave Energy in Action !!

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Wave Hub - What is it?

Simple idea! §  An area of sea with an electrical cable and connection point

offshore into which arrays of Wave Energy Converters will be connected

§  A connection to the National Grid for initially up to 30 MW

of wave power

§  Permits to allow connection and operation of the facility

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Why are we doing it?

§  Demonstrate commercial viability of wave energy

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R&D

Initial prototype

Refined prototype

Pre- commercial device

Market entry with commercial product

Market penetration

Demonstration NaREC

Wave Hub

EMEC

Wave Hub … a route to commercialisation

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What do we hope will happen?

§  Demonstrate commercial viability of wave energy

§  Maintain and strengthen the UK lead in marine renewable energy

§  Develop a new industry in the South West

§  Contribute significantly to the South West renewable energy generation

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Where did it come from?

§  2001 SWRDA Regional Renewable Energy Strategy §  2002 Agreement to support biomass, wave and tidal power §  2002 Set up Regen SW §  Oct 2003 Seapower South West Report §  Jan 2004 METOC Seapower SW Review §  April 2004 Wave Hub Feasibility Study Starts

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Feasibility Study Organisation

PROJECT MANAGERSCOTT WILSON OCEANS

Dr Mike Patching

SWRDAMr Dominic Vincent – Environment Manager

Advisory Group Regen SW

AD LITTLE' Business Case'

HALCROW'Technical Feasibility

Study'

BOND PEARCE'Consents and

Permits'

D CLARK'Publicity'

CSEP'StakeholderConsultation'

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Project Requirements (What do we need to do?)

§  A site (offshore and onshore) §  A suitable resource (wave energy) §  A grid connection §  Feasible technology (practical and cost effective) §  A business case (market need and financially viable) §  Legally allowed to do it (permits and consents including an

EIA) §  Stakeholder support

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Grid Connection Options

Western Power Distribution Network

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Inshore shipping route

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Wave Energy Converter Arrays

Gen

Gen

Gen

Cable

Support Buoys

33kV Sub-Sea Cable

Wave Hub

Substation

33kV Cable Joint

Utility Company Substation

33kV Bus-bar Connection Point

Cable Duct Directionally Drilled

Through Sand Dunes

33/11kV Power

Connection Unit

11kV Wave Energy Device

Connection Cables

11kV

Cable

Splices

Termination &

Distribution Unit

11kV Wave

Energy Device Cables

WAVE HUB EQUIPMENT

Wave Hub System

Diagram Figure5.3

33/11kV Power

Connection Unit

11kV Wave Energy Device

Connection Cables

1 x 3-core 33kV Underground

Cable

33kV PCU

Connection

Cables

Shore based equipment

Wet Hub

Communications and

Control

33kV Circuit Breakers

Workshop

Gen

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The wet hub

§  Sub-sea transformers

§  Remotely operable sub-sea switchgear and protection systems

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Typical 33kV Cable

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Potential Benefits

The potential to create an International industry in SW

§  Development of wave energy sector and associated supply chains –  including marine technology and advanced engineering resulting in over 450 jobs in the

SW by 2010 and 700 by 2020. §  Inward Investment

–  GVA from indirect impacts to the SW of £15million and £27 million respectively with 20-40% expected in Cornwall.

§  20MW wave power produced and sold by 2008 –  supplying 14,000 homes; meet up to 30% of Cornwall’s renewable energy target and

up to 5% of the Regional target. §  Links to Higher Education

–  Centres of Excellence in CUC, Plymouth and Exeter leading to the establishment of a high profile wave energy R&D base in west Cornwall.

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Wave Hub – a long way to go!

Major issues to be addressed: §  Funding §  Consents and Licenses §  Stakeholder Agreement §  The Wave Device Developers §  Engineering Studies and Surveys §  Detailed Design §  Procurement §  Construction §  Operation

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Permits & Consents

§  Electricity Act 1989 Section 36 (DTI) §  Food & Environment Protection Act 1985 (DEFRA) §  Coast Protection Act 1949 §  Town & Country Planning Act 1990 §  Electricity Act 2004 §  The Marine Bill ? §  European Legislation - EIA Directive §  Nature Conservation Directives §  SEA §  Crown Estate §  ING

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Contracts

§  Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) §  Device Developer Agreement(s) §  Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) §  Grid Connection Agreement §  Management, Operation and Maintenance Agreement §  Metering Agreement §  Company Formation

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Costs

Wave Hub Development and Construction Estimated Costs

Stage 95% probability ofbeing exceeded

Mean probability 5% probability of beingexceeded

Development £1.25 million £1.42 million £1.60 million

Construction £11.41 million £12.42 million £13.45 million

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SWRDA WAVE HUBPROJECT TIMELINE 2006 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

DEVELOPMENT:SWRDA Funding & Staff

Carry out EIASite SurveysEngineering design for EIA

DTI/CE/DEFRA ConsultationPlanning Route MapPlanning Applications Granted

Wave MeasurementEnergy AnalysisEngineering Specifications

WHMCBusiness Plan and Funding

Contracts (Developer, Grid, EPC)

Design & Tender for Construction (OJEC)

PROCUREMENT: Wave Energy DevicesWet Hub (transformers)CablesSwitchgear

CONSTRUCTION: ONSHORE OFFSHOREGrid ConectionCommissioning

OPERATION:

2005 2006

CAPITAL FUNDINGGRANTED FOR PROCUREMENT & CONSTRUCTION

PLANNING

WHMC CONTRACTS WITH DEVELOPERS, UTILITY AND EPC CONTRACTOR

Appoint WHMC Managing Director

MOU with Project Developers

Complete Business Plan & Apply for Funding

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Conclusions

§  It is Technically Feasible !! §  It is wanted and supported by Industry and Government §  It is supported by SWRDA §  It appears to have positive environmental benefits and

negligible negative impacts (to be confirmed by EIA) §  It has Local Stakeholder support (so far) §  It is legal §  It requires a lot more work! §  It will cost - but not excessively so! §  We are not alone!