The full scale prototype was designed from the outset to be a pre-production prototype as well as a technology demonstrator. The 750kW machine is 120m long and 3.5m in diameter.
Prior to building the machine, PWP undertook an extensive 18-month independent design verification with WS Atkins, one of the world's leading consultants in offshore structures. This process analysed the extreme ('100 year' wave) and fatigue loads on the machine over its design life (initially 15 years). The successful verification of the Pelamis design allowed PWP to secure commercial insurance for the prototype and subsequent Pelamis machines.
The prototype was the world’s first commercial scale wave energy converter to generate electricity to a national grid. It was launched in early 2004 and first installed at EMEC in August 2004 following a series of sea trials in the North Sea.
In 2006 the prototype was upgraded to the same specification as the production machines being manufactured for Enersis. Further sea trials were carried out on the upgraded machine before it was reinstalled at the EMEC site in March 2007. The machine then completed a further extensive phase of testing, meeting a large number of critical test objectives.
Aspects of the testing of the prototype were supported by the npower Juice Fund.
