Belgian companies have become leaders in the construction of offshore wind projects and plan to roll-out a similar network in wave energy. Yesterday, a cooperative agreement has been signed by the University of Ghent and six Flemish enterprises (DEME Blue Energy, Electrawinds, Haven Oostende, Cloostermans-Huwaert, Spiromatic and Contec) signalling the start of FlanSea – a “blue energy” project based on wave energy. The research project will costs € 3.7m and received a € 2.4m subsidy from the IWT. The initiators aim to install a wave energy convertor 1km outside of the port of Ostend in 3 years and have a commercial product available post-2017.
In countries that can take advantage of very large and natural wave capacity (the UK, Portugal, Ireland, Japan, Australia, the USA), a number of different wave converters are already in or past the development stages. In Europe, a number of testing centres have been created: EMEC (UK), Wavehub (England), BIMEP (Spain) … Still, while most wave energy device engineers and developers focus on marine areas with outsized wave actions (potential higher utilization and efficiency but also higher risk), Flansea convertors will be used in moderate wave climate zones.
We are wary of the fact which role wave energy will play in the (renewable) energy mix and like all new technologies only time will tell. The installed capacity of wave energy, assumed in a baseline scenario is 0.9 GW in 2020 and 1.7 GW in 2030. The estimated maximum potential for wave energy in the EU-27 is up to 10 GW by 2020 and 16 GW by 2030. This compares to a European offshore wind goal of 40GW by 2020 with only 3GW installed year end 2010 with similar operating hours (3,000-4,000). We are also rather sceptical whether the Southern part of the North Sea offers the best conditions for wave energy. But in a presentation made mid-October 2010, the University of Ghent stated that “the Belgian Part of the North Sea offers moderate resources but is very appropriate as test site.”
Still, Belgium can play a vital role as an R&D hub and leverage its expertise throughout Europe and other regions. As a new technology being still in its infancy we believe the first objective of the project will be in R&D and reducing the production costs of wave energy. Governmental support on a EU, federal and local level is vital in reaching this goal, as research showed that wave energy can only be economically viable with support of € 200/MWh (€ 220/MWh Ireland, € 230/MWh Portugal, € 200/MWh + gray electricity UK). This is expensive when compared to thermal and nuclear production costs of € 30-50/MWh, onshore wind support in Belgium of € 135-155/MWh (@ € 50/MWh forwards), offshore wind support of € 157/MWh and PV support of > € 300/MWh. The cooperation will also need to open the permitting path while no regulatory support regime exists in Belgium. A call for “Blue Certificates” to promote renewable energy from water arises.
Although costly at first sight wave energy offers various advantages: 1/ optimal use of offshore transmission grid by placing wave energy convertors between offshore wind mills. 2/ high utilization rates at 3,000-4,000 hours per year. 3/eliminates the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) debate.
Partners in the project are: the University of Ghent, DEME Blue Energy, Electrawinds, Haven Oostende, Cloostermans-Huwaert, Spiromatic and Contec.
Energiek 
Posted on December 2, 2010
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