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5 MW initiative to be implemented at EMEC’s Billia Croo location.
The wave energy innovator, CorPower Ocean, has formalized a docking agreement to construct a 5 MW wave energy initiative at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland.
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, revealed the news during her keynote speech at the All-Energy Conference in Glasgow today, May 14, 2025.
Anticipated for installation in 2029, the 5 MW array is set to become the UK’s most extensive wave energy initiative. It will be established at EMEC’s grid-connected Billia Croo wave energy testing facility and will consist of 14 wave energy converters (WECs), functioning for a duration of up to 15 years.
The WECs are designed with a 9 meter diameter spherical composite hull – one of the most resilient shapes in nature – which propels the movement of the power take-off as it reacts to approaching waves. Significant advancements include CorPower Ocean’s WaveSpring technology, which enhances the motion and power absorption in typical sea conditions, along with a tested storm safeguard system that secures the apparatus during severe weather and facilitates safe offshore maintenance access.
This represents CorPower Ocean’s second endeavor at EMEC, following trials of its C3 WEC at EMEC’s Scapa Flow testing site in 2018 as part of the Wave Energy Scotland initiative.
Since that time, CorPower Ocean has effectively showcased its C4 device off the Portuguese coast, enduring storm waves exceeding 18 meters and generating electricity for the Portuguese grid. Moreover, CorPower Ocean has validated an efficient supply chain, installation techniques, and operational maintenance. The subsequent phase involves adding three additional WECs, demonstrating a smaller wave farm prior to developing the 5 MW initiative at EMEC.
CorPower Ocean advocates for local manufacturing whenever feasible, with the hull and other subsystems for the array project slated to be produced in Orkney. This strategy aims to minimize transportation expenses and carbon emissions while creating skilled employment and bolstering the local supply network. Local vessels will be employed for economical loadout and towing to the site.
Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes stated:
“With its plentiful natural resources and unmatched expertise in marine renewables, Scotland stands in an excellent position for the advancement and implementation of tidal stream and wave energy to further augment Scotland’s renewable energy composition.
“I am thrilled to announce that CorPower Ocean has formalized an agreement to develop the UK’s largest wave farm at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. This new initiative will create skilled employment in Orkney, support a developing supply chain, and reinforce Scotland’s leading role in marine renewables.”
Anders Jansson, Head of Business Development at CorPower remarked:
“We are excited to return to EMEC to establish the first commercial wave farm. EMEC and Orkney offer substantial expertise and an established supply chain, minimizing risk and expenses for the endeavor.
“The UK’s renewable auctions will play a crucial role in offering a market pathway for the Billia Croo initiative. The Marine Energy Council (MEC) is advocating for the Government to secure its first wave energy project in this year’s auction, either through a £5m wave energy ringfence or establishing a clear capacity ambition supported by an alternative method.”
Matthew Finn, Managing Director at EMEC expressed:
“We’re delighted to welcome CorPower Ocean back to EMEC, having initially hosted them at our Scapa Flow test site in 2018. It’s remarkable to see the methodical development they’ve undertaken – advancing from smaller-scale trials in Orkney to a substantial demonstration in Portugal, and now gearing up for an array back here at EMEC.
“Methodical innovation is vital for mitigating risk and enhancing cost-efficiency when validating technologies at sea. Advancing towards what could become the UK’s largest wave energy array is a significant milestone – not just for CorPower Ocean, but for the wave energy industry at large.
“There exists a vast wave energy potential across the globe – estimated at nearly ten times Europe’s yearly electricity demand. Progressing towards wave energy array demonstrations is essential for unlocking its considerable capability to bolster energy security, cultivate a more resilient energy mix, and generate economic value in coastal areas.”
