MARMOK-A-5 Wave Energy Converter

The MARMOK-A-5 is a prototype of a low power WEC. It is a floating device, is a spar buoy based on OWC technology. The prototype – the result of public pre-commercial procurement by the EVE (Basque Energy Agency) - has a length of 42m (36m draft and 6m freeboard), is 5m in diameter, with a displacement of 162Tm. It was installed on the BiMEP marine energy platform, the first WEC connected to the Spanish state electricity grid, and one of the first devices connected in the world.

This WEC was initially developed by Oceantec. This company was acquired, incorporating all its assets and personnel, by IDOM in September 2018.

With this prototype, IDOM has successfully achieved all the planned objectives. Firstly, demonstrate that it could withstand three winters, operating in the open waters of the Atlantic (2016-2019), on occasions overcoming waves of up to 14m. Secondly, it has provided an enormous amount of data and valuable experience to IDOM during all the phases of its life cycle: modelling, design, certification, manufacturing, installation, operation, maintenance and removal.

The MARMOK-A-5 has been deployed twice. The initial configuration (October 2016 – June 2018) had two Wells turbines developed by IDOM / Oceantec, and polymer anchor lines.

In the second configuration (October 2018 – June 2019), the MARMOK-A-5 has served as a test platform for the Horizon 2020 OPERA project, where innovations of several European companies and institutions have been tested: bi-radial turbine, control algorithms, elastomeric mooring systems, which could reduce the cost of generating energy by more than 50%.

Building on this experience, IDOM will continue with its technological development, working towards a commercial-sized WEC that will produce electricity at a competitive price.