News Release

Queen's energy partnership makes waves for UK

Business Announcement

Queen's University Belfast

The likelihood of the UK being able to produce widespread energy from wave-generated power has been given a vital boost.

Aquamarine Power Limited, a leading marine energy company, and Queen's University Belfast have agreed a new five year research partnership which will develop the next generation hydro-electric wave power converter.

Already the partnership has created the Oyster® wave power device. It is designed to capture the energy found in amplified surge forces in nearshore waves.

The first prototype of Oyster®, a hydro-electric wave power converter, is to be launched at sea for the first time this summer at the European Marine Energy Centre off the coast of Orkney.

The latest five-year deal will see Aquamarine work alongside the Environmental Engineering Research Centre at Queen's. The team from Aquamarine will model several devices in the state-of-the-art wave tanks in the University's Civil Engineering Department and at the Marine Biology Centre at Portaferry.

Led by Professor Trevor Whittaker, from the Queen's School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, the Wave Power Research Group is regarded as being among the best marine renewable energy groups in the world.

The team will monitor loading, survivability and how the devices interact with each other to guarantee continuous power output in all sea states.

The Partnership will also provide Aquamarine with access to a second, larger wave tank due to open at Queen's Portaferry facility which is being part-funded through the University's Institute for a Sustainable World initiative.

The Portaferry facility will allow the team to test groups of wave power devices which can be deployed in large numbers to form off-shore power stations.

Professor Trevor Whittaker, Head of the Wave Power Research Centre and a world-renowned expert on wave power and coastal engineering said: "My team at Queen's specialises in the application of fundamental research to industrial development, therefore I am very pleased to strengthen our links with Aquamarine Power, one of the world's leaders in marine renewable energy.

"It provides focus for the work of our research students, giving them an opportunity to participate in cutting edge research that will benefit society and the environment for current and future generations."

Martin McAdam, Chief Executive of Aquamarine said: "I am delighted to announce Aquamarine's continuing relationship with Queen's University Belfast's world-leading team. Professor Trevor Whittaker is an award-winning expert in wave energy research. He and his group have tested and deployed more devices in their time than any other research facility in the world.

"This agreement creates a fantastic opportunity on two fronts. Firstly it provides Aquamarine with access to the University's world-class wave power test facilities, enabling Aquamarine to continue to enhance the design of Oyster® as a market leading technology, and as importantly, gives us access to the brightest PhD students in this field."

Queen's latest PhD graduate has recently joined Aquamarine's staff. The Company is committed to continued investment in high quality post-graduate training. The Partnership will ensure the brightest PhD students at Queen's will have the opportunity to work with professionals at Aquamarine and ultimately join the Company's rapidly growing team of experts. The Company has doubled in size in the last six months alone with a quarter of its staff holding PhDs.

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For media inquiries contact Lisa Mitchell, Senior Press Officer, Queen's University Belfast +44 (0)28 9097 5384, m0781 44 22 572 or email Lisa.mitchell@qub.ac.uk or Carrie Clement, Buchanan PR (For Aquamarine Power Ltd) 0131 226 4427. Email: carriec@buchanan.uk.com

Notes to editors

The Oyster® system consists of a simple steel Oscillating Wave Surge Converter, or pump, fitted with double acting water pistons, deployed near-shore in depths around 10-12m. Each passing wave activates the pump; which delivers high pressure water via a sub-sea pipeline to the shore. Onshore, high-pressure water is converted to electrical power using proven, conventional hydro-electric generators. The nearshore location is easy to access; and the most complex part of the system is onshore, so it is accessible 365 days a year.

Queen's Environmental Engineering Research Centre

  • The marine renewable research capacity at the Environmental Engineering Research Centre, Queen's University Belfast, is among the best in the world and in collaboration with Aquamarine, Oyster® will be the Centre's sixth wave power sea trial. Founded in 1976, the internationally acclaimed Wave Power Research Group is the only renewable energy group to have won the Royal Society Esso Energy Awards.

  • The Centre is home to one of three research clusters within the new School of Planning, Architecture & Civil Engineering (SPACE). The cluster's activities integrate the built environment within the natural environment using science and engineering to meet the principles of social, economic and environmental sustainability.

  • Sustainable development poses some of the most serious challenges of the 21st century. Queen's University Belfast has decided to prioritise research and teaching on sustainable development as a major thematic focus for the coming years. Wave and tidal power research at Queen's is part of this mission, providing fundamental research on sustainable energy solutions.

  • See information on Oyster®, LIMPET and a wave powered desalination plant at http://www.qub.ac.uk/researchcentres/WelcometoSustainableDevelopmentatQueens/RelatedResearch/

    Aquamarine Power Ltd

  • Aquamarine Power is the only UK marine energy company developing both wave and tidal power devices simultaneously and to have secured test berths for both technologies at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.

  • Aquamarine Power's senior management team includes CEO, Martin McAdam, who founded Airtricity's US operations, recently sold for £0.75 billion, and COO, Matthias Haag, former General Manager at Shell WindEnergy.

  • In October 2007 Aquamarine Power joined forces with Scottish and Southern Energy plc's subsidiary, Renewable Technology Ventures Ltd (RTVL), securing a £6.3m investment from SSE and a further £1.5m from Sigma Capital Group plc.

  • Aquamarine Power has received significant funding and support from Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Technology Strategy Board, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Scottish Government.

  • Aquamarine Power recently featured in leading environmental business website Greenbang's UK Clean Tech Start-Up Index of 23 top UK new businesses in the clean technology sector. More details at www.greenbang.com.

  • Aquamarine Power was recently named 'Emerging Technology Promoter of the Year' at the Global Renewable Energy Awards. More details at www.euromoney.com.


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