PENNINGTON, N.J., March 08, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTT) today announced that it is partnering with the National Data Buoy Center (“NDBC”) under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (“CRADA”) to conduct ocean demonstrations of its innovative Self-Contained Ocean Observing Payload (“SCOOP”) monitoring system integrated into OPT’s APB350 PowerBuoy®.
Considering the ever rising criticality of accurate and reliable metocean and weather data, NDBC has focused its efforts on addressing the rising costs of ocean observations tools and techniques, which led to the development of SCOOP. Helmut Portmann, Director of NDBC, who indicated in various interviews and formal presentations the importance of such efforts, described the “game-changing” impacts of SCOOP. Several SCOOP payloads have been deployed on NDBC buoys as part of the initial performance validation process.
An initial ocean demonstration will be conducted off-the-coast of New Jersey, with additional demonstrations to be conducted at an alternate site which is to be determined mutually by OPT and NDBC. Site-specific measurements of meteorological and ocean conditions, as well as system performance and maintenance data collection, will be carried out.
George H. Kirby, President and Chief Executive Officer of OPT, stated, "We are pleased to be working with NDBC to demonstrate our APB350 PowerBuoy with a game-changing payload such as SCOOP as part of our commercialization efforts.”
Dr. Mike M. Mekhiche, OPT's Vice President of Engineering, stated, “Interface requirements for SCOOP have been designed into OPT’s next generation APB350 PowerBuoy for immediate and easy integration wherever OPT’s PowerBuoys may be deployed.”
“NDBC operates a large network of buoys and stations which provide critical meteorological and oceanic observations that are utilized by government, industry, and academia throughout the world,” Mr. Kirby added. “We are excited to demonstrate the PowerBuoy’s ability to provide a power and communications platform for NDBC payloads in northern latitudes where persistent power, reliability and survivability tend to be problematic and are critical for successful operations.”
About Ocean Power Technologies
Headquartered in Pennington, New Jersey, Ocean Power Technologies (Nasdaq:OPTT) is a pioneer in ocean wave energy conversion. OPT's proprietary PowerBuoy® technology is based on a scalable and modular design. OPT specializes in cost-effective and environmentally sound ocean wave based power generation and energy storage technology.
About National Data Buoy Center
The National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) is located in southern Mississippi at the John C. Stennis Space Center. NDBC designs, develops, operates, and maintains a network of more than 250 data collecting buoys and coastal stations that provide critical information to public and private users including weather data, tsunami warnings and ocean conditions.
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