Wave energy innovation: IDOM deploys upgraded MARMOK-A-5 at BiMEP

IDOM has successfully completed the towing and offshore installation of its upgraded MARMOK-A-5 wave energy converter at the Bay of Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP) as part of the EuropeWave project, marking a new milestone in the sector.

MARMOK-A-5 is a floating device based on Oscillating Water Column (OWC) technology, where the interaction between the internal water column and the buoy structure generates an alternating airflow used to produce energy.

This new deployment focuses on a series of key technological improvements. In particular, IDOM has advanced the Wells turbine design, incorporating variable pitch blades that significantly enhance both efficiency and operability across a wider range of sea states.

In addition, several system-level optimisations are being tested, including a new mooring configuration, improved umbilical cable routing, and refined installation and deinstallation procedures. The recent offshore operation has already demonstrated a substantial reduction in installation time, validating these enhancements under real conditions.

The deployment takes place within the EuropeWave initiative, co-funded by the European Commission, the Basque Energy Agency (EVE) and Wave Energy Scotland, and aimed at accelerating the development of cost-effective wave energy technologies.

This milestone reinforces IDOM’s commitment to innovation in renewables and to advancing wave energy towards commercial viability.