A contract for the installation and commissioning of electrical equipment to link the Wave Hub project in Cornwall with the National Grid was placed yesterday (3rd August). Work will be carried out by Poole-based Powermann Ltd after it won a European-wide tender process to supply and install onshore electrical equipment. The contract value is reported to be in the region of £1 million.

Nick Harrington, Head of Marine Energy at the South West RDA said: “We are delighted to have Powermann on board to deliver the onshore electrical package for Wave Hub.  Now that we have reached the stage of awarding contracts to suppliers the project is really taking off and we look forward to shortly starting the recruitment for a Wave Hub general manager, who will lead the operation of Wave Hub.”

With planning consent, funding and its first wave energy device developer (Ocean Power Technologies) now all in place, installation work on Wave Hub is likely to start in summer 2010, with the first wave energy devices expected to be deployed in 2011.

The RDA has already placed its first equipment order with JDR Cable Systems Ltd to manufacture the cable and hub assembly for Wave Hub in a contract worth £7.6 million.  The latest contract award to Powermann includes the supply of transformer, electrical switchgear and other high-voltage equipment.

Nigel Ritchie-Lilley, Engineering Manager for Powermann, said: “Over the past 12 months we’ve seen a significant growth in our work within the renewable energy sector and we are very excited about working on our first wave energy project. As a South West based business we’re pleased to be playing a role in such a ground breaking project that will put the region on the world stage for the development of wave energy devices.”

The UK government is investing £9.5 million in Wave Hub and a further £10 million to support other marine energy projects in the South West.  The total Wave Hub project is now valued at £42 million, with funding also secured from the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme (£20m) and the RDA (£12.5m).