PLOCAN. An offshore test site for ocean energy converters

Abstract

The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) is a public consortium aimed to support R&D in the fields of ocean science and technology. PLOCAN manage a marine test site providing a set of infrastructures to facilitate the development of emerging ocean energy converters. This test site is placed at the East coast of Gran Canaria island covering a marine surface of 23 km2 and it will include in the close future an underwater electrical and communication grid. This grid is designed on medium voltage cables and a power capacity of 15 MW. The electrical infrastructure is expected to operate by the end of 2015.