OES Annual Report 2012 - Ocean Energy Systems

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04 / COUNTRY REPORTS
shore geographical areas cannot be given without a prior governmental process, in which suitable areas are
identified. This legal framework is very much inspired by similar legislation in the Norwegian petroleum sector.
As a follow up on the Ocean Energy Bill, a group of relevant governmental bodies has identified 15
areas that could be suitable for large-scale offshore wind power. More detailed “strategic consequence
assessments” will be finalized late 2012.
Meanwhile, the licensing body NVE has continued to prioritize small scale demonstration projects located
near shore according to the existing Energy Bill. The licensing process is efficient and pragmatic since the
demonstration projects are small in physical installations and operation time.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
In Norway, ocean energy is included in more general renewable energy support programmes. The overall
funding for renewable energy R&D made available through the Norwegian Research Council, Innovation
Norway and ENOVA has increased significantly over the last years. This has also resulted in increased
funding for ocean energy projects as well, from research to prototypes and demonstration.
The research cluster in Trondheim, comprising of NTNU and SINTEF/MARINTEK, is active in ocean energy
research. Some of the activities are technology screening and verification, control systems, mooring, marine
structures, safety, optimal design of devices and load modelling. MARINTEK’s model tank is also used to
test ocean energy devices.
Runde Environmental Centre (REC) is located on the island Runde, off the Norwegian west coast. REC is a
research station with activities within marine biology, oceanography and ocean energy.
REC has developed leading in-house competence on environmental monitoring, and offers ROV survey,
field sampling and laboratory facilities to investigate environmental impacts of the tested devices.
Stadt Towing Tank (STT) was founded in 2007 to deliver test and research services to the marine industry. The
main market for STT has been ship designers in the maritime cluster of north western Norway, but projects
related to renewable energy are also tested. Among the renewable energy project have been wave energy
converters, windmill installation concepts, windmill foundation solutions and windmill service vessels.
TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION
Operational Ocean Energy Projects
Andritz Hydro Hammerfest
The company was founded in Norway in 1997 by the local utility company Hammerfest Energy and is
currently owned by Andritz Hydro, Iberdrola and Hammerfest Energi. Andritz Hydro Hammerfest is among
the leading tidal energy technology developers in the world and is now taking the step into commercial
delivery. The Company has unrivalled commercial operation experience and has received Carbon Trust
funding for the tidal turbine development.
Fred Olsen
The company Fred. Olsen has continued to test their wave energy buoy “BOLT” in Norwegian waters. The
point absorber unit, which has a 45 kW installed capacity, is located on the south east coast of Norway,
close to the town of Risør. The system is not grid connected, but has produced many MWh of electricity to
an onboard load bank. Sea trials will continue in 2013.
In a direct continuation of the work with “BOLT”, Fred. Olsen was awarded grant support from the UK
Technology Strategy Board. This, in turn, led to the design, manufacturing and deployment of a full-scale
device at the “FABTest” test site off Falmouth in South West England. The unit, which has three power take