Ocean Power Technologies Gets Additional $1.9M

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPTT, OPT.L), a developer of PowerBuoy systems that generate electricity by harnessing the renewable energy of ocean waves, said it received an additional $1.9m for the installation of PowerBuoys, in connection with its on-going contract with the U.S. Navy. According to the Pennington, New Jersey- based company, the fund will primarily support the testing and monitoring of the next PowerBuoy systems to be installed off the Marine Corps Base in Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay. The site is one mile away from the coast and 100 feet deep in the sea. Ocean Power indicated that the systems will be tested at the sites and the performance data collected would support the on-going engineering of the next generation of PowerBuoys. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, Ocean Power wave power project completed an extensive environmental assessment by an independent engineering company. This study evaluated the potential impacts on the organisms and vegetation on the seabed as well as sea quality and came into a conclusion that the project would not significantly impact the environment. [Source: http://www.rttnews.com]