Finavera

As the AquaBuOY continues to take its shape and preparations are underway for its maiden splash in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, I tremble with the anticipation of that day.

A number of people have asked me recently why is the device called an "AquaBuOY"? The name of our wave energy converter is a small testament to the two company members who perished in the Pacific Ocean on December 11, 2001, near Cape Lookout, Oregon. The capitalization of the B, O, and Y is for Bengt-Olov and Yury. Yury Avrutin, my brother, co-founded the company that was later bought by Finavera Renewables. Along with our chief technologist Bengt-Olov Sjostrom, they were flying a small plane surveying the Oregon coast on that December afternoon and did not come back.

When that small plane crashed off the coast of Oregon, it not only took two lives but it took numerical models and technical documentation. Key information about the wave conversion device was lost. The question was: what should I do about it? The decision was simple – the company we started had to succeed against the odds at whatever expense.

The technology development moved along at slower pace as we struggled to duplicate complicated numerical models and plans. Bengt-Olov and Yury had a lot of information packed into their computers and their minds, information we had to duplicate. But we’ve done it.

There is still a long road ahead, but we are as committed as always to see electricity from ocean waves to light the lights in peoples homes. I feel responsible for fulfilling our joint dream. Failure was not an option. In a few short weeks we will reach a milestone both man wanted to achieve – the AquaBuOY will be in the water.