INDUSTRY VIEWPOINT EXPERIENCE
The learning from the past years has provided a much clearer picture of the technology challenge. Experience has shown us that wave machines have to be incredibly robust if they are to survive and operate reliably in our energetic seas. Subsystems and components designed for the oil and gas sector sometimes just do not do the job: cylinder modules fail, accumulators corrode and non-return valves fall apart. Aquamarine Power has shown leadership by discussing openly what has not worked on Oyster.
COMMUNICATING IDEAS AND EMBRACING/SHARING FAILURES Up to now industry participants have closely guarded their intellectual property and have hidden their failures for fear of being ridiculed or for fear of frightening investors.
This is a big mistake. We must embrace and share our failures - each failure is a learning opportunity. When speaking of his frustration in getting the incandescent light bulb to work reliably, it was Thomas Edison who said: “I have not failed, I have just found 1000 ways that won’t work.” We must learn, we must design out the failure and we must get on with learning more. The worst thing we can do is waste investor cash on solving problems already solved by others. Investors should cherish those companies that are willing and open to co-operation and collaboration.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT Private sector investment alone cannot fund this industry at this stage and we are very fortunate that both UK and Scottish governments remain committed to the sector. New thinking on how to fund the industry is required and this may include introducing industry-wide technology programmes as well as company-specific grants.
EXCITING TIMES
These are exciting times for the wave energy sector. Other countries, notably Ireland and Chile, are learning from the ‘Scottish model’ to put in place their own policies in support of wave energy. New markets, like new technologies, take years to develop - and as long as we stay the course in the UK, we can look forward to substantial global markets for our maturing wave technologies in the years ahead.
Martin McAdam CEO
Aquamarine Power
www.wavetidalenergynetwork.co.uk
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