The US Navy has deployed an autonomous wave energy device for sea trials under the its littoral expeditionary autonomous PowerBuoy (LEAP) programme.

Designed and manufactured by Ocean Power Technologies, the LEAP PowerBuoy structure incorporates a power take-off and on-board energy storage system.

The device also offers continuous off-grid clean energy and provides power at the lower levels required for the sophisticated vessel detection and tracking system.

During the trials, the LEAP vessel detection system will display the dual-use capability of the radar network.