5 MW project to be deployed at EMEC’s Billia Croo site.
The wave energy developer, CorPower Ocean, has signed a berth agreement to build a 5 MW wave energy project at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland.
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, made the announcement in her keynote address at the All-Energy Conference in Glasgow today, 14 May 2025.
Scheduled for deployment in 2029, the 5 MW array is expected to become the UK’s largest wave energy project. It will be deployed at EMEC’s grid-connected Billia Croo wave energy test site and comprise of 14 wave energy converters (WECs), operating for up to 15 years.
The WECs feature a 9 metre diameter spherical composite hull – one of the strongest shapes in nature – which drives the movement of the power take-off as it responds to passing waves. Key innovations include CorPower Ocean’s WaveSpring technology, which amplifies the motion and power capture in regular sea states, and a proven storm protection system that locks down the device during extreme conditions and enables safe offshore access for maintenance.
Matthew Finn, Managing Director at EMEC said:
“We’re pleased to welcome CorPower Ocean back to EMEC, having first hosted them at our Scapa Flow test site in 2018. It’s fantastic to see the structured development they’ve pursued – progressing from smaller-scale testing in Orkney to a larger demonstration in Portugal, and now preparing for an array back here at EMEC.
“Structured innovation is crucial for derisking and improving cost-efficiency when proving technologies at sea. Developing what could become the UK’s largest wave energy array is a major step forward – not only for CorPower Ocean, but for the wave energy sector as a whole.
“There’s a vast wave energy resource across the globe – estimated at nearly ten times Europe’s annual electricity demand. Progressing towards wave energy array demonstrations is vital to realising its significant potential to strengthen energy security, create a more robust energy mix and create economic value in coastal regions.”
