Scottish near-shore wave generator planned

ORKNEY, Scotland, March 25 (UPI) -- Scottish company Aquamarine Power signed a $2.7 million contract with Fugro Seacore to install a wave-energy generator at the European Marine Energy Center.

The technology is designed for waters that are between 26 and 52 feet deep and is expected to be installed 550 yards offshore by the second half of the year, Scotland on Sunday reports.

The generator, to be built in Orkney, Scotland, is expected to be able to produce between 300 and 600 kilowatts for Scotland's national grid.

The contract is part of the Scottish government's goal to get 50 percent its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

Aquamarine will install its Oyster converter, which consists of a single pump that sends high-pressure water through a pipeline to a generator when it is hit by a wave.