VolkerStevin leads construction of biggest wave energy project

VolkerStevin Marine, in partnership with Westminster Dredging, was recently appointed as the lead contractor for the design and construction of the world’s biggest commercial wave energy project. The scheme is anticipated to lead the birth of a new green industry in the Western Isles and other similar projects across the UK.

VolkerStevin was selected by RWE npower for the Siadar Wave Energy Project (SWEP) on the Isle of Lewis. SWEP will be the UK’s first commercial-scale scheme to produce clean electricity through wave energy. The wave power facility is forecasted to generate four megawatts of electricity.

SWEP will use the oscillation water column technology developed by Voith Hydro Wavegen. The energy produced from SWEP is more likely sufficient to meet the yearly energy needs of approximately 1,500 houses in the UK, or equivalent to a fifth of all households on Lewis and Harris.

VolkerStevin, working along with RWE npower and Voith Hydro Wavegen, is now undertaking a feasibility study for the wave energy facility’s construction design. John Lovell from VolkerStevin, informed that the company is optimistic of producing a scheme that could start operations by 2012.

Meanwhile, local businesses are likely to benefit from the intended 18-month building phase of the project.  Larger than the Pelamis scheme off Portugal, SWEP has the potential to generate around 50 new local jobs during its construction.

SWEP is among the first projects to operate under the Scottish government’s Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC) scheme, the revenue support system that promotes the development of marine energy. The Scottish government targets to meet 50 per cent of electricity demand from renewables by 2020.