Spanish engineering firm IDOM has successfully deployed its latest floating wave energy converter, the MARMOK-A-5, at the Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP) off the coast of Spain. Designed to harness marine power through oscillating water column technology, the prototype is undergoing rigorous sea trials to evaluate its durability and efficiency in real-world conditions. This deployment marks a significant step in the EuropeWave program, aiming to refine renewable energy capture and reduce production costs as the technology moves toward commercial viability and full-scale grid integration.
The MARMOK-A-5 has been positioned in the open-sea testing grounds of BiMEP, a specialized facility dedicated to the research and development of marine energy technologies in the Bay of Biscay. This strategic deployment allows the device to be electrically linked to the national power grid through the Lab platform, enabling the export of generated electricity and continuous monitoring of the system’s behavior during the trial period.
The device measures 42 meters in total length, featuring a 36-meter draft submerged beneath the surface and a 6-meter freeboard. With a diameter of 5 meters and a displacement of 162 metric tons, the converter utilizes an oscillating water column mechanism. This system converts the rising and falling motion of waves into air pressure, which then drives a turbine to generate electricity. To optimize output and reliability, IDOM has equipped the prototype with intelligent control systems, on-board batteries, and adjustable turbine blades.
This current testing phase builds upon previous trials conducted at the same site between 2016 and 2019. The earlier iterations provided foundational data that helped engineers refine the design for better reliability and ease of maintenance in demanding marine environments. The current campaign serves as a validation milestone for the EuropeWave initiative, focusing on proving the system’s performance and long-term survivability in high-sea conditions.
Beyond its role as a power generator, the MARMOK-A-5 acts as a laboratory for the Horizon 2020 OPERA project. Various European partners are utilizing the platform to test innovations in mooring systems, turbine designs, and control algorithms. These collaborative efforts are projected to potentially reduce wave energy generation costs by more than 50%, paving the way for a commercial-scale wave energy converter capable of producing electricity at a competitive price.
