PacWave South allows up to 20 wave energy converters of various designs to be tested in real-world, open-sea conditions seven miles off Oregon's coast. The project includes four offshore steel conduits up to 120 feet below the seafloor and extending a mile offshore, connecting to a bundle of five onshore high-density polyethylene conduits, all installed using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) methods and ultimately connecting to PacWave's Utility Connection and Monitoring Facility. The HDD method was chosen to avoid disturbing sensitive wetlands and beach areas and because it allowed the work to be conducted year-round.
"The engineering for this project was complex, requiring our team to overcome coastal geology challenges, working in the near-shore environment around sensitive coastal wetlands, and meeting a tight schedule to obtain regulatory approval," said Koti Vadlamudi, Jacobs People & Places Solutions Senior Vice President for Global Business Units. "This work reaffirms our commitment to working with organizations that push the boundaries of what's possible to address climate change and build resilient energy transition solutions in our communities."
