http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/articles/i/5199/?cid=3

US marine energy company Ocean Power Technologies has taken a step forward in the development of its next generation wave power device.

The company has now completed factory testing of the power take-off (PTO) units for its utility-scale PowerBuoy wave energy technology, the PB150, at its facility in Pennington, New Jersey.

The PTO is now being integrated into the spar of the PB150 ahead of deployment off the coast of Reedsport, Oregon.

The new direct drive system is much larger than the version that has been tested off the coast of Oahu in Hawaii over the past two year in a project with the US Navy and is expected to deliver increased efficiency and reliability.

"We are excited to see our next generation power take-off successfully complete extensive survival and operational mode testing," says CEO Charles F. Dunleavy. "We expect the PowerBuoy to be ready for deployment off the coast of Reedsport, Oregon late this summer and look forward to an ocean demonstration that can pave the way for additional units in the region - with the eventual goal of a wave power station serving thousands of local residents and businesses."