government support from the SEK 875 million (approx. EUR 82 million) that the Swedish government has set aside for a special programme for three years

http://www.fortum.com/news_section_item.asp?path=14022;14024;14026;547;2346;48484

Positive signals about wave power’s future potential
3.7.2009 12:33

Fortum and the Swedish wave power equipment supplier Seabased in cooperation with Uppsala University are testing wave power outside Lysekil on the west-coast of Sweden. The partners have applied for investment support from the package set by the Swedish government in order to build a full-scale wave power test facility. The initiative is now one of the Swedish Energy Agency’s 5 prioritised projects.

The current status and future of wave power as well as experiences from the research project were discussed in a press meeting in Lysekil on 25 June 2009. Present in the event were Uppsala university, Fortum, the Swedish Energy Agency and Seabased.

- Development of the Seabased technology has been impressive and the Swedish Energy Agency has decided that a larger demonstration plant is one of the prioritised projects for government support from the SEK 875 million (approx. EUR 82 million) that the Swedish government has set aside for a special programme for three years, says Tomas Käberger, Director General of the Swedish Energy Agency.

- We're delighted that the wave power project is among the prioritised projects. The experiences so far have led us to believe that changeover from testing stage to a fully functional energy production plant is possible, comments Christian Lundberg, President, Fortum Sweden.

- Interest in wave power based on the Uppsala-solution has increased. Signals from abroad indicate, that as soon as there is a larger reference plant, the industry will grow rapidly, says Billy Johansson, CEO of Seabased.

The research facility is a comprehensive experiment and includes the transmission of electricity to land via connected generators. This technology that utilises the energy from surface waves to make electricity is unique, and has been developed at the Uppsala University by professor Mats Lejon. Construction of the test facility outside Lysekil started in 2004 and has been developed with support for example from the Swedish Energy Agency and Fortum. Other energy companies and research foundations have been involved in financing the project as well.