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EMEC Scapa Flow Wave Test Site
The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Scapa Flow wave test site provides accessible at-sea testing options for subscale devices. The site is located in Scapa Flow, to the south of Kirkwall, and was chosen for its relatively benign waters which reach almost 0.35 m significant wave height. The testing area is 0.4 km by 0.9 km, situated in water depths of 21-25 m, with a predominant westerly wave regime and a mean annual significant wave height of 4 m.
While the Scapa Flow test site is not grid-connected, EMEC provides support to set-up a microgrid to simulate grid connection. If required, the device under test will be connected to the test support buoy via two umbilical cables: one for power transmission and the other for control and communications. The buoy can relay data by wireless technology allowing developers to monitor performance remotely, as well as dissipating electricity generated by the device. The buoy is also equipped to supply the marine energy devices on test with power and act as navigational aids.
Each berth has a pre-laid foundation and attachment points, and an adjacent test area. The pre-laid foundations comprise 5m x 5m x 2m gravity-base frames loaded with densecrete blocks for equipment moorings. The area of seabed is also available for rehearsal or deployment of other tools and techniques.
Additional Information
Device Status
Is the test site actively testing or in planning (active)? Or is it permanently closed for business (inactive)?
Active
Energy Resource
- Wave
Duration
2011 -
Ongoing
Grid Connectivity
Not Grid Connected
Number of Berths
2
Waterbody
Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Site Characteristics
Geographic characterization for the test site location:
- Open Ocean: Main body of ocean, not enclosed or partially enclosed by land
- Coastal: Open water near the coast, spanning between land and shelf boundary
- Enclosed Bay: water that is partially surrounded by land, with a mouth open to larger water
- Constricted Channel: A channel where water flows quickly due to narrowing by the land
- River: Water flowing from land towards a larger body of water
Enclosed Bay
Country
United Kingdom
Environmental Details
Last Modified
29 May 2025
This Test Site has the following MRE Devices
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Citation Formats
“EMEC Scapa Flow Wave Test Site.” Marine Energy Projects Database: Test Sites, PRIMRE, United States Department of Energy, https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Test_Sites/EMEC_Scapa_Flow_Wave_Test_Site. Accessed <day> <monthRoman> <year>.
Marine Energy Projects Database: Test Sites. <year>. "EMEC Scapa Flow Wave Test Site." Accessed <monthRoman> <day>, <year>. https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Test_Sites/EMEC_Scapa_Flow_Wave_Test_Site.
