Senior Research Scientist, Karl Erik Kaasen, has written an article about model testing of wave power plants published by MARINTEK Review No.3 -Nov.- 2011. In the article Karl Erik Kaasen uses Pontoon Power’s second wave tank test at MARINTEK as an example of model test of wave energy conversion. Click here for the online version of MARINTEK Review No.3-Nov-2011.

Pontoon Power attended the Spanish-Norwegian seminar to promote bilateral cooperation within the frame of EEA Grants 2009-2014 in the Renewable Energy Sector. The seminar was arranged by Innovation Norway.

Pontoon Power presented its Pontoon Power Converter for international investors at the International Roadshow arranged by Intesa Sanpaolo Start-Up Initiative.

For readers of the article Pontoon Power would like to comment a couple of details,

1) Among other, Fig 21 compares the ratio absorbed energy/mass for the WECs. Of the PPC’s mass, about 20% is steel in structure, pontoons, mooring, cylinders, and piping. 70% is ballast water and 10% is gravel ballast. In other words, only 20% of the mass has a significant cost. This may be borne in mind if the energy to mass ratio is used as a performance indicator regarding profitability. The same consideration also applies, but to a variable degree, for the other WECs that are studies.

2) The article reports calculated values of Capture-width-ratio (=capture width divided by length of the structure). On the modeled PPC the modeled structure length is 132 meters, while the gross length of the pontoons array is 80 meters. On the full scale PPC, the structure will not stick outside the pontoons array. If dividing by 80m instead of 132m, the PPC’s capture-width-ratio would be 65% higher than the reported value.

Pontoon Power presented its concept at Marine Renewable Energy and Marine Technology at Gran Canaria, Spain, during November 13-15, 2011. The Norwegian-Spanish seminar was arranged by Innovation Norway.

Pontoon Power’s General Manager, Mr. Jens Myklebust, was one of the invited speakers at the Low Carbon Earth Summit in Dalian, China, during October 18-22, 2011. Jens was presenting the development of the Pontoon Power Converter at the Wave Power Generators and Technology section of the conference.

Pontoon Power completed in July 2011 the second of three planned model tests at MARINTEK, Trondheim, Norway. A 1:50 scale model with 31 pontoons was tested. The main purpose of the test was to study the seaworthiness during extreme wave conditions. Our Hurricane Survival Mode, in which the converter is lowered in a controlled way and thereby less exposed, showed promising test results.

The overall behavior in Operation Mode was also tested with good results.

Pontoon Power attended the Intesa Sanpaolo Start-Up Initiative in Milan, Italy. The company passed the initial stages and was after the Cleantech Investor Arena Meeting ranked as the Best Cleantech Start-Up 2011. Wee look forward attending future events by the Intesa Sanpaolo Start-Up Initiative going forward.

Pontoon Power has recently performed a model test with one pontoon (scale 1:10) at MARINTEK, Trondheim, Norway. The results from the test confirmed our own estimates and gave us good reasons to proceed with our planned test program. We are therefore now strengthened in our confidence that the PPC will be able to produce between 15 and 20 MW electrical power.

We are currently preparing our next model test with multiple pontoons to verify the behavior of the load carrying structure.

Pontoon Power is proud to present that the company has been listed among the Top 25 Nordic Cleantech start-up companies. Pontoon attended the Nordic Camp seminar in Trolleholm during February 5-6.

For more information about the competition please visit Nordic Cleantech Open.

Stavanger Aftenblad has recently published an article about Pontoon Power in both the paper and online version.

Click here for the online version.

Pontoon Power has received a Letter of Intent from Statkraft for R&D activities related to verification of the Pontoon Power Converter.

The R&D activities, to a value of NOK 1.78 mill (USD 300.000), will be carried out by NTNU (The Norwegian University of Science and Technology) in Trondheim and paid by Statkraft. We are very pleased to get this support to further develop our concept.

Statkraft is the largest company in Europe within renewable energy.

The Norwegian technical magazine, Teknisk Ukeblad, has recently published an article about the PPC and wave energy. Click here for the electronic version.

Fluid Scandinavia has written an article about the PPC’s hydraulic system in the latest edition of their magazine.

Pontoon Power is pleased to announce that the company has been selected by Nordic Cleantech Open as the Norwegian finalist to the Global Ideas Competition in San Jose, California on November 17, 2010.

Pontoon Power attends the North European Renewable Energy Convention 2010 during September 28-29.