Norwegian renewable energy firm Langlee Wave Power has secured £700,000 (6 million NOK) funding from Färna Invest AB.

The funding will enable Langlee Wave Power to further develop its green technology, which includes the E1 Wave Energy Converter.

Founder and CEO Julius Espedal said: “There are a number of projects underway with the 50 kW E1 module, which offers energy independence to small island communities. With a new mooring solution, which will be presented at the Latin America Marine Energy conference in Santiago, Chile later this month, we can build larger units by putting an array of Langlee E1 modules together. The size of the unit then can expand to several megawatts.”

“The past few months have been very successful with agreements made for our E1 Wave Energy Converter and record breaking interest at our stand at the All Energy exhibition in Aberdeen. There are a number of funding applications in progress and the money secured from Färna Invest AB shows the investor confidence in our technology.”

Mr Espedal, a qualified mechanical engineer, set up Langlee Wave Power in 2006 with the vision of delivering commercially viable wave power. The 50 kW Langlee E1 module is a floating structure which uses horizontal wave movements, harnessing it into energy set around a simple steel tubular structure. A key benefit is the simple offshore design with quick installation and maintenance with no need for cranes, remotely operated vehicles or divers.

Small island communities often rely on diesel generators for power, and the Langlee E1 is proving a viable alternative in these situations. Langlee Wave Power has already signed a license agreement with Turkish partner Unmaksan, part of the Altintas Group, for a 600kW test unit off Turkey, and also entered a collaboration agreement with Tangaroa Energy to help power New Zealand’s remote Stewart Island.

The modules are are lightweight and designed for serial production, securely moored to the seabed, and lap up wave movement through large water wings. These move in opposite directions providing optimal power efficiency which is converted into electricity through generators. The calculated yearly production for one mega watt installed Langlee power is 4 GWh, which would power 1000 homes.

Tags: Langlee Wave Power