Bombora, a leading ocean energy company, is proud to be announced as a finalist in the Wales STEM Awards', shortlisted for the STEM Start-Up of the Year Award'. Bombora is among 42 innovative businesses and individual finalists, making a difference to, and championing, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) in Wales.
Bombora has developed an innovative and patented wave energy converter called mWave . mWave delivers low cost, low impact, utility scale renewable electricity for global commercial use in national and island electricity grids.
Bombora's MD, Sam Leighton, experienced in leading teams from early stage development to commercial success, said:
"I am delighted that Bombora has been shortlisted for the STEM Start-Up of the Year, Wales STEM Award. I lead an ambitious team of experienced professionals dedicated to delivering a global solution to an enormous engineering challenge. We take a collaborative approach to our work at Bombora and proactively disseminate information, aiming to address the diversity gap and skills shortage and inspire the next generation. It's good to have our commitment to STEM in Wales recognised by being shortlisted in the STEM Start-Up of the Year' category."
Since setting up their European Head Office in Wales in 2017, Bombora's team has grown rapidly from 4 to 24. Bombora's £17m Pembrokeshire Demonstration Project, supported by a £10.3 million ERDF grant through the Welsh Government, is on schedule for deployment in 2020. mWave will demonstrate a new breed of utility scale wave energy converter that offers a reliable, cost effective solution to support global net zero strategies. As well as delivering this ground breaking project from their base in Pembroke Dock, the ambitious team are expanding mWave's product range and progressing a global project pipeline. Bombora's first commercial project is already underway in Lanzarote, in collaboration with the local government and Enzen, a global energy group.
Image: Bombora's 2019 Wave Challenge' event held to inspire STEM students and promote ocean energy innovation and careers
The Wales STEM Awards were launched in a bid to recognise the innovative STEM work being undertaken in Wales. The finalists, which have been shortlisted in 15 categories, will find out if they've been successful at the awards ceremony taking place at Cardiff's City Hall on May 1st.
Head judge Louise Bright, founder of the Wales Women in STEM network, said:
"We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the first Wales STEM Awards. The calibre of those nominated has been second to none and we have been overwhelmed by the number of entries. We really feel that our shortlist represents some of the most progressive organisations and individuals at the forefront of STEM innovation in Wales."
About Bombora and mWave
- Bombora has developed a membrane style wave energy converter called an mWave '. Located 10 meters beneath the ocean's surface, similar to a fully submerged reef, it is invisible from the shoreline. As ocean waves pass over mWave, the membranes deflect pumping air through a turbine to generate electricity. Electricity is directly transferred to shore via a submerged cable.
- mWave is unique among wave energy converters as it simultaneously addresses the cost of energy' and ocean wave survivability' challenges.
- Bombora is currently completing a 1.5MW mWave product validation project in Pembrokeshire, Wales with the support of the Welsh Government and a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant. Bombora is simultaneously developing a global pipeline of commercial wave farm projects.
About Wales STEM Awards
The Wales STEM Awards, founded by communications agency jamjar and Grapevine Event Management are being supported by headline sponsors GS Verde Group, which comprises law firm Greenaway Scott, corporate finance boutique Verde Corporate Finance, and patent attorney firm Alchemie IP.
The nominated charity partner for the awards is Cancer Research Wales, which is dedicated to developing life-changing treatments, diagnostic techniques, and research for people with cancer.
Full shortlist can be found here: https://www.stemawards.wales/shortlist/
Other sponsors include Airbus, Box UK, Business News Wales, Cardiff Metropolitan University, CPS Group, Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult, Development Bank of Wales, Rolls-Royce, and Valero Energy.
For further information, please contact:
Sam Leighton
Managing Director
T: +44 7981 844125
E: sam@bomborawave.com
Chris Williams
Commercial Manager
T: +44 1646 233140
E: chris@bomborawave.com
