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PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
04th August 2014
First prototype of the offshore monitoring buoy KIC-OTS launched in Portugal
On the 29th of July 2014 WavEC Offshore Renewables successfully launched the first prototype of the
offshore monitoring buoy being developed under the KIC-OTS program in Algés at the mouth of the river
Tagus, Portugal. The buoys deployment was sponsored by APL, the port authority of Lisbon.
The operation was the result of two years of research, design and implementation. This buoy has been
designed and equipped to aid in the O&M operations of offshore energy parks aiding to optimize costs
while also to providing long term data for environmental impact assessment. The focus is on the
acoustic component as apart from a custom, low data hydrophone, the product also has an acoustic
modeling component.
The prototype will now enter a full test period of all its systems including sensor data acquisition, power,
communication (GPRS and VHF) as well as structural design.
Later this year it will be deployed offshore for a long term reliability test. This project has six
international partners. It is coordinated by EDP Inovação and Instituto Superior Técnico with
development coordination by WavEC.
Watch the video of the deployment: http://youtu.be/ErJGuNrYbMg
KIC Offshore Test Station project
The KIC Offshore Test Station project aims to fund the development of innovative solutions for the
offshore energy industry. There has been a delay in the definitive implementation of this industry and
there still remain valid concerns regarding its ability to compete in an unsubsidized energy landscape.
Therefore innovative solutions need to be developed and implemented in order to aid the reduction of
CAPEX and OPEX costs of such projects.
KIC-OTS has funded four projects and will be taking two of those to market in 2015, the offshore
monitoring buoy being one of them.
One of the objectives of the KIC-OTS project, funded by Kic-Innoenergy, is to develop an integrated tool
for environmental monitoring and marine activities operations directed at the current and future needs
of the Offshore Renewable energy farms. The aim is to have this buoy ready to be introduced in the
market by the end of 2014.
On the 29th of July 2014 took place the first deployment test in mouth of the Tagus river. During this
deployment communications and sensors tests will be done as well as the performance assessment of
the buoy. A second deployment it is foreseen to the end of September.
Partners
Development coordinator: WavEC Offshore Renewables;
Coordinators: EDP Inovação and IST – Instituto Superior Técnico
Other partners: Ahlers Lindley, UAVision and UPC - Universidad Politecnica de Catalunya.
About WavEC Offshore Renewables
WavEC Offshore Renewables is a private nonprofit association created in 2003 to develop its activities in three
areas: applied research, consulting, and pro bono activities, characteristic of a private non-profit organization,
namely the dissemination and promotion of opportunities associated with the early development of marine
renewable energy in the country, among companies, the public administration and the general public, and also the
training of young people within curricular internship and advanced training, including Master’s and PhD theses.
The most valuable asset of WavEC is the 400 kW OWC pilot plant (Azores), providing important field experience and
monitoring activities to the centre's staff and invited researchers.
Address: Rua Dom Jerónimo Osório,
Tel.: +351 21 848 2655; Fax: +351 21 848 1630
For more information, please see the links below:
Video: http://youtu.be/ErJGuNrYbMg
http://www.kic-innoenergy.com/
http://www.wavec.org/
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11,
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119,
Lisboa,
Portugal