OPT bags new contract from the US Navy

Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) has strengthened its ties with the US Navy, building on its experience in deep-water power source applications.

The company has bagged a new $3 million contract for participation in the second phase of the US Navy's Deep Water Active Detection Systems (DWADS) programme.

The DWADS programme is designed to utilise sophisticated data gathering and communications systems.

The advanced technology programme has prospective applications using multiple PowerBuoys for homeland security including powering sensor networks over wide areas of the ocean.

For its part, under the first phase of the programme, OPT deployed an initial test design of its autonomous PowerBuoy 75 miles off the coast of New Jersey. This first phase ocean test provided power generation data that validated OPT's power predictions for the system.

The new contract provides for ocean testing by the Navy of an advanced version of the autonomous PowerBuoy for the Navy's operational requirements. In addition, OPT will support the Navy's ocean test procedures in the areas of mooring design, at-sea operations and deployment.

"Order backlog previously reported as of July 31, 2008 was $3.7 million. Winning this contract significantly increases the company's order backlog and is in addition to the $2 million award received in early October 2008 from the US Department of Energy for OPT's Reedsport, Oregon project. These two contracts totaling $5 million emphasise the dual market opportunities for OPT's PowerBuoy in both utility and autonomous applications," said Dr. George W. Taylor, CEO, OPT.