Basic facts

Lower Member shape: “Rail” type arrangement

Lower Member footprint: 36m x 36m

Upper Member: 380 cubic meters

Rated Power: 500kWkW

Rated Power in S250 configuration: 250kW

Mooring: two gravity bases on opposite sides of the machine

Expected capacity factor in the Mediterranean: N.A.

Expected capacity factor in the Ocean: N.A.

Description

The R380/500kW is going to be commercialized in 2013. It is a more massive device with respect to the previous ones, with a Lower Member comprising two “rails” each 36m long, and an Upper Member of 380 cubic meters. The mooring is formed by two gravity bases, on opposite sides with respect to the machine.

The installation consists in a preliminary positioning of the gravity bases, which are self-floating, and then the positioning of the machine. All the process can be carried out in one day or, better, in two days.

The target for these machines in grid disconnected situations are islands or isolated communities with an average electricity consumption in the order of 500kW or more if no energy storage is available. If energy storage or a flexible power usage are available, then the machine is useful also in situations where the average consumption is lower than 500kW.

The machines can be installed in arrays to increase the energy output, both in a grid-disconnected configuration and in a grid-connected one. The production is significantly more stable than that of wind turbines.

The R380 machines can be effectively used in a setup in which their peak power is artificially limited to 250kW (“Series 250” configuration, indicated as R380/500-S250). In this case their expected range of capacity factors (when considered as 250kW machines) increases significantly.