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CorPower Ocean Partners with Equipmake for Wave Energy Innovation
CorPower Ocean has formalized a development agreement with Equipmake, a company recognized for its advancement in electrification technologies across automotive and specialty vehicle sectors.
This collaboration will see Equipmake create a customized generator and Silicon Carbide (SiC) inverter system designed specifically for CorPower Ocean’s cutting-edge wave energy technology. This initiative represents the initial phase of a multi-year program aimed at fast-tracking the commercialization of CorPower Ocean’s innovative wave energy solutions.
The CorPack wave energy clusters by CorPower Ocean are designed as modular units that can be integrated to establish extensive wave farms, scaling from hundreds of megawatts up to a gigawatt. Each CorPack, ranging from 10 to 30 megawatts, collects energy generated by a series of wave energy converters into a central hub. These hubs ensure that the electricity produced meets grid-quality standards, typically utilizing a 33/66kV electrical connection prevalent in offshore wind operations.
“Our collaboration with Equipmake is a significant advancement in the creation of our next-gen generator and SiC inverter, which will improve the performance and scalability of our wave energy systems,” stated Patrik Möller, CEO of CorPower Ocean. “This agreement is a vital milestone in our effort to provide reliable, clean energy worldwide.”
Equipmake operates from the UK and is focused on creating industrial technologies that cater to the electrification needs of automotive and other industries, aiding the shift from fossil fuel-driven to zero-emission systems. The company prides itself on offering fully customized solutions through a vertically integrated approach.
Recently, CorPower Ocean secured financial support from Vinnova, Sweden’s national innovation agency, to integrate artificial intelligence into its wave energy systems, enhancing performance and operational control. The WACE (Wave Energy AI-based Control Enhancement) Project, supported by project partner NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), is scheduled to run until November 2025.
This announcement followed CorPower Ocean’s successful acquisition of €32 million (approximately $34.5 million USD) in Series B funding, aimed at promoting the commercial viability of wave energy as a mainstream renewable resource. This investment came on the heels of CorPower Ocean’s C4 device triumphantly withstanding the “largest Atlantic storms on record,” while efficiently generating energy under typical ocean conditions.
Multiple wave farm projects leveraging CorPower Ocean’s technology are currently in development along the Atlantic Arc, with locations in Scotland, Ireland, Portugal, and Norway. Notably, Ireland’s state-owned energy supplier, ESB, is working on a project off the coast of County Clare, which marks the culmination of two decades of research into diverse technology solutions. The pre-commercial phase of the Saoirse Wave project will incorporate CorPower Ocean’s Wave Energy Converters (WECs) as part of a CorPack cluster.
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www.renewableenergyworld.com