OES-Environmental distributes metadata forms (questionnaires) to solicit information from developers involved in environmental monitoring around marine renewable energy project sites around the world. This page provides project descriptions, baseline assessment, post-installation monitoring, and links to available data and reports. Content is updated on an annual basis.

Wave Dragon Project - Milla Fjord Site

Description

The Wave Dragon technology is a floating slack moored wave energy converter. The larger versions of Wave Dragon with 4MW or more installed power are moored in relatively deep water to take advantage of the ocean waves before they lose energy as they reach the coastal area. The device allows ocean waves to overtop a ramp, which elevates water to a reservoir above sea level. This artificial ‘head’ of water is subsequently released (through gravity alone) through a large number of propeller turbines and in this way transformed into electricity. The vertical turbines are directly coupled to generators – the rotor axis being the only moving parts of the device. The unit comprises a central reservoir platform, with a doubly curved ramp. Two curved wave reflecting wings that concentrate the power of incoming waves are attached to the platform. The Wave Dragon device is fixed to a forward anchor buoy which) is moored through polymer-ropes in combination with chains to six to 10 anchors depending on site and wave climate.

Location

The site is approximately 20km off the Pembrokeshire Coast south west of the opening to Milford Haven estuary, in the south west tip of Wales, U.K.

Licensing Information

Grid Connection initial application made.
Proximity check to The Crown Estate Submitted and Approved.
EIA Scoping Report Submitted.

The project does not have an active lease site and is listed as canceled. 

Project Progress

See the Wave Dragon Pre-Commercial Demonstration Project for technology history. Surveys have been taken of the Milla Fjord site during 2013 and 2014. Side scan multi bean sonar, ship-based ACDP water column data, and a range of radar and acoustic profiles have been taken. Physical sampling was also taken. Geophysical data was taken at both surveys and geophysical results have been drawn from comparison between both surveys. 

Both survey results are being analysed and compared as well as the physical samples taken.
 

Key Environmental Issues

These will be drawn from the data and environmental designations of surrounding locations. However, at the time of writing the site is within a proposed European Special Protection Area as (to be) designated under the European Birds Directive (as enacted into UK Law). Thus, a thorough EIA / Environmental Monitoring program will be undertaken.

Papers, Reports, Research Studies

Baseline Assessment: Wave Dragon Project - Milla Fjord Site

Receptor Study Description Design and Methods Results Status
Physical Environment Ship based ADCP surveys and side-scan sonar surveys in 2013, 2014 and 2018.

• Four multibeam echo sounder surveys of the site in 2013, 2014 and 2018.
• Targeted wreck surveys in 2013, 2017 and 2018.
• High resolution sub-bottom profiler survey in 2018
 Completed