The contract worth approximately £2million will see Oyster commence its installation on the seabed at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, UK, during summer 2009 with completion scheduled for the autumn.
The Oyster system consists of a simple oscillating wave surge converter, or pump, fitted with double acting water pistons, deployed near-shore in depths of 8-16 m. Each passing wave activates the pump which delivers high pressure water via a sub-sea pipeline to the shore. Onshore, the high-pressure water is converted to electrical power using conventional hydro-electric generators.