But CEO Martin McAdam said the North American market holds potential, particularly the shorelines of Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and northern California. However, McAdam said the roughly 20 permits required to get the Oyster in the water around California proved prohibitive enough to delay a launch in that market.

Aquamarine Power was been selected to join an elite group of leading UK cleantech companies on a mission to Silicon Valley in the USA – giving the company the opportunity to showcase Oyster wave energy technology to some of the US’s key cleantech industry leaders.

Aquamarine Power was one of 20 companies selected from over 150 applicants to the Clean and Cool Mission 2010  from 20-26 February to San Francisco. The judging panel, included senior executives from BP Alternative Energy, Technology Strategy Board and UK Trade & Investment, selected Aquamarine Power for its innovative clean technology and its market potential.

The company had the chance to engage with experts on the financial and public policy agendas relevant to clean technology businesses operating in the US and coincided with the annual Cleantech Forum in San Francisco, which will bring together over 1,000 key cleantech industry leaders.

McAdam said, “The Clean and Cool Mission is an important initiative that will help open doors for pioneering UK companies who are driving innovation in the emerging cleantech sector... a fantastic opportunity for Aquamarine Power to showcase world-leading Oyster wave energy technology in the US, as well as exchange knowledge, expertise and contacts with our American counterparts."