U.S. Navy Salutes Wave Energy Tech With A $3 Million Contract
The US Navy has awarded Ocean Power Technologies a $3 million contract for participation in the second phase of its Deep Water Active Detection Systems (“DWADS”) program.
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Ocean Power Technologies plans to test an advanced version of the PowerBuoy system to power the DWADS program, which uses sophisticated oceanic data-gathering and communications systems to track vessels. The project begins immediately and should be completed in about 18 months, the company said.
Under the first phase of the program — announced on October 16, 2008 — OPT deployed an initial test design of its PowerBuoy 75 miles off the coast of New Jersey. This first phase ocean test provided power generation data that validated OPT’s power predictions for the system.
The new contract provides for ocean testing the autonomous device according to the Navy’s operational requirements. In addition, OPT will support the Navy’s ocean test procedures in the areas of mooring design, at-sea operations and deployment.
Dr. George W. Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of OPT, stated, “We are very pleased to have received this new contract from the US Navy, following the deployment of our first DWADS PowerBuoy last month. It builds on our experience in deep-water power source applications.”
Ocean Power has also signed a $2 million contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to deploy a PowerBuoy off the Oregon coast in the second half of 2009.
Image source: © Margojh | Dreamstime.com
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