The bimep research platform, which will provide manufacturers of ocean energy devices with the opportunity to install their equipment in open sea conditions for demonstration and testing, was officially launched in Armintza-Lemoiz, in Spain’s Basque region, at the end of July 2015.

The official launch of the platform marks the culmination of a long and complex five-year permit and construction process.

Bimep will provide manufacturers of wave energy converters (WEC) with the facilities and infrastructure needed to test their equipment and to demonstrate its potential to harness ocean energy. The characteristics of the sea in this part of the Bay of Biscay are ideal for testing the effectiveness of new wave energy devices and technologies and the testing area is fully equipped and permitted for this purpose.

The test area, delimited by seven marker buoys restricting access to sea traffic, is also equipped with a buoy that will constantly monitor weather and wave conditions. The site is also equipped with four subsea power cables of 5 MW each, transmitting power and connecting the different devices to a new onshore substation that feeds into the grid.

However, the main function of bimep is not to generate power but to be a forum for the creation of high added value and technological know-how through testing, research and development of new production technologies using marine energy. The technological research conducted at bimep will make a significant contribution towards assessing the performance, reliability, operability and operational and maintenance costs of WEC, all of which are essential factors in bringing technologies to commercial readiness.

For more information:
http://bimep.com/en/
http://www.oceanenergy-europe.eu/index.php/communication/press-corner/379-the-bimep-research-platform-inaugurated-after-5-years-of-work