Australia's BioPower Systems to Develop Wave Energy Projects With Spain's Elecnor

Sydney Australia-based BioPower announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Spanish global project development company Elecnor SA (MCE:ENO).

The MOU means the two companies will work together on the development of wave energy projects using BioPower’s proprietary bioWAVE technology in Elecnor’s core business regions of Spain, Portugal, and South America.

BioPower’s bioWAVE system is designed to supply utility-scale grid-connected renewable energy while being out of view, and without affecting marine life. The unique system sways in tune with the forces of the ocean, and naturally streamlines when extreme conditions prevail, leading to cost-competitive lightweight designs. Multiple bioWAVE devices, each with a capacity of 1MW, are designed to be installed in undersea wave energy farms, where the combined power output is then supplied to the on-land grid via subsea cable.

Australia’s ocean energy company, BioPower Systems, is commercializing wave and tidal energy systems that incorporate revolutionary designs based on the concept of biomimicry. BioPower designs its systems to naturally avoid extreme ocean forces, using light-weight construction, resulting in anticipated cost savings. The proprietary bioWAVE and bioSTREAM technologies are designed to have a combination of lighter, more resilient structures to deliver both lower capital costs and lower energy generation costs.

The Elecnor Group is one of the leading Spanish companies dedicated to engineering, constructing and developing infrastructures in the fields of energy, the environment and information technologies. It is a Spanish private-capital company, whose shares are quoted on the Mercado Continuo de la Bolsa Española (Spanish Continuous Market). Backed by its 50-year track record, its ongoing growth and diversification have allowed it to position itself among the main Spanish companies and as a clear leader among the companies in its sector. It is now present in more than twenty countries, where its operations are run by the 8,400 professionals that make up its workforce. Its sphere of influence covers four major business areas: Networks and Infrastructures, Renewable Energies, Technology and Information Systems and Concessions. 

According to A. Javier Esquivias, Elecnor’s director of business development, the company has developed a large international portfolio of wind and solar energy projects, and the extension into marine energy is a logical next step.

“Wave energy is now emerging as a new clean energy source and we recognize many advantages if the right technology is used,” Esquivias said. “BioPower appears to have solved the problems associated with earlier wave energy technologies and we are hopeful that their bioWAVE will be an enormous commercial success.”

Esquivias said Elecnor has a wealth of experience in electrical infrastructure and renewable energy projects, which can be mobilized to support wave energy projects.

According to BioPower’s CEO, Dr. Tim Finnigan, the two companies were planning a demonstration project in Spain that would follow the upcoming bioWAVE pilot testing in Australia. The demonstration project in Spain could commence as early as 2011.

“Elecnor has proven credentials in the development and delivery of renewable energy projects,” Finnigan said. “This capability will speed up the process of rolling out our bioWAVE product in large-scale wave energy farms.  After the first demonstration of a full-scale bioWAVE device in Spain, we intend to commence developing wave energy farms. The involvement of a large company like Elecnor is critical to achieving this, and we are very pleased to be working with them.”

Image courtesy of BioPower