Orecon to test wave-energy conversion buoy off English coast
HAYLE, ENGLAND - Orecon Limited, a spinoff company from Plymouth University, has developed a wave-energy conversion buoy that utilizes three multi-resonant chambers to provide renewable energy.
Orecon has raised more than $19.5 million to fund the construction and deployment of the project, its first commercial 1.5-megawatt (MW) offshore buoy, southwest of Hayle, England, in conjunction with the South West of England Regional Development Agency's Wave Hub Project.
The buoy utilizes multiple oscillating water columns that drive air turbo-generator sets. The buoys are about 40 meters in diameter and rise more than 5 meters over waves. All of the machinery is above the water. Construction of the first unit is expected to take eight months.
After the prototype is complete, Orecon expects following units to be built in about five months. Deployment is quick and depends a lot on how far the buoys are transported. The actual installation will take about three and a half days: three days to install the six anchors and another 12 hours to attach the buoy.
Construction of the first unit is expected to begin in second quarter of 2009 with deployment set for April 2010.
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Quebec premier inaugurates La Romaine hydroelectric complex
MONTREAL - Quebec Premier François Legault has inaugurated the la Romaine hydroelectric complex on the province's North Shore.
The newly inaugurated Romaine hydroelectric complex could serve as a model for future projects that are sorely needed in the province, Legault said.
"It brings me a lot of pride. It is truly the symbol of Quebec ingenuity," he said as he opened the vast power plant.
Legault was accompanied at today's event by Jean Charest, who was Quebec premier when construction began in 2009, as well as Hydro-Québec president and CEO Michael Sabia.
La Romaine is comprised of four power stations and is the largest…
