About Wave Hub

Wave Hub provides shared offshore infrastructure for the demonstration and proving of arrays of wave energy generation devices over a sustained period of time.

It consists of an electrical hub on the seabed 16 kilometres off the north coast of Cornwall in South West England to which wave energy devices can be connected.

The 12-tonne hub is linked to the UK’s grid network via a 25km, 1300 tonne subsea cable operating at 11kV.

The project holds a 25-year lease for eight square kilometres of sea with an excellent wave climate. Wave Hub has the necessary consents and permits for up to 20MW of wave energy generation and offers a clearly defined and fully monitored site for marine energy production.

Four separate berths are available to lease, each with a capacity of 4-5MW.

Wave Hub can readily be upgraded for up to 50MW of generating capacity in the future once suitable components for operating the cable at 33kV have been developed.

(Image shows schematic for Wave Hub. Click on image for larger pdf version)

Wave Hub is complemented by the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy, a centre of excellence delivering world-leading research, facilities and technology transfer in marine energy, excellent port infrastructure and an established supply chain in South West England.

Wave Hub has been funded by the South West RDA, the European Regional Development Fund Convergence Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and the UK government.