OPT: Autonomous Powerbuoy Market Represents Important Opportunity for Profitable Growth (USA)

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPT) today announced financial results for its fiscal 2013 third quarter and the nine months ended January 31, 2013.

OPT reported a decreased net loss of $10.6 million for the nine months ended January 31, 2013, versus $11.1 million from the comparable period in fiscal 2012. The company’s contract backlog as of January 31, 2013 was $4.3 million, compared to $5.2 million as of October 31, 2012 and $7.8 million as of January 31, 2012. OPT anticipates that the majority of its backlog will be recognized as revenue over a period exceeding 12 months. A portion of OPT’s backlog at January 31, 2013 is for its Oregon project, and the Company intends to seek additional funding to complete this project.

Charles F. Dunleavy, Chief Executive Officer of OPT, stated: “Ocean Power Technologies continues to make progress in its utility PowerBuoy markets under contracts with Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, and the European Union. In addition, based on our market outreach, OPT remains optimistic about the potential for the Autonomous PowerBuoy to be a contributor to future growth. We are talking to prospective customers for the Autonomous PowerBuoy primarily in two key sectors – Oil and Gas, as well as defense and government. This marketing and selling activity must address the technology and application-specific needs of the customers. In this dialogue, our product offerings bring to these and other industries the prospect of longer-term, continuous renewable power at higher levels than they had previously envisioned. Despite the macro-economic backdrop, we continue to see strong interest in the core PowerBuoy technology. The Company is actively pursuing a number of opportunities to expand our business within both the utility and autonomous markets.”

Mr. Dunleavy continued: “Finally, during our third quarter we received $1.5 million under the New Jersey’s Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program. We greatly appreciate the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s decision to approve our application.”

To focus its on-going efforts to target new opportunities in the autonomous market, OPT established a new business unit to assess, target and develop opportunities in the large potential markets for OPT’s non-grid connected PowerBuoys.

Efforts continued under the award of a ¥70 million (approximately US $0.8 million) contract from Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (MES). OPT is teaming with MES to develop PowerBuoy technology enhancements for application in Japanese sea conditions.

This analysis and design work is expected to be completed by the end of OPT’s fiscal year ending April 30, 2013 after which a decision will be made on the next steps toward ocean trials of a demonstration PowerBuoy system. This would provide the basis for a prospective build-out of a commercial-scale OPT wave power station in Japan.

OPT and Lockheed Martin (LM) are continuing to develop a planned 19MW wave energy project at Portland, Victoria, Australia, which would be one of the largest wave energy projects in the world. LM is assisting with the design of OPT’s PowerBuoy and will lead the production and system integration and support overall program management. Funding for this project includes a grant from the Commonwealth of Australia. The grant is subject to certain terms, including achievement of significant external funding milestones.

OPT recently retained Brookfield Financial Australia Securities Limited as financial advisor to assist in structuring and securing the power purchase agreements and appropriate financing for the project. In addition, OPT is working with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, the Commonwealth’s agency that manages the grant, regarding the project.

The Company announced the appointment of Dr. Mike Mekhiche to the position of Vice President, Engineering. Dr. Mekhiche joins OPT from BAE Systems, where he most recently held the position of Director of Programs. Dr. Mekhiche will be responsible for the Company’s engineering and advance technology development. This will include technology delivery, continuing enhancements and development of OPT’s wave energy technology portfolio, and the development of the next generation of PowerBuoy systems.

OPT has changed the nomenclature of its Utility and Autonomous PowerBuoy products to focus on product classes. Among the utility PowerBuoy products, the PB150, which will be called the Mark 3 PowerBuoy, currently drives a peak rated generator with a maximum power output of 0.86MW. The PB500, which will be called the Mark 4 PowerBuoy, currently drives a peak rated generator with a maximum power output of 2.4MW.

This method of power rating is more closely aligned with that utilized by other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Among the Autonomous PowerBuoy products, the LEAP system will be called the APB 350, and the OPT MicroBuoy will be called the APB 10.

The Company is planning for deployment of a Mark 3 PowerBuoy off the coast of Oregon. However, deployment and commissioning of this PowerBuoy must take into consideration various regulatory, business, and financial factors, including requirements of regulatory agencies and a significant use of funds.

In February 2013, OPT received notification from the staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that it now considers our first Oregon PowerBuoy to be subject to its jurisdiction. If FERC is ultimately determined to have such jurisdiction, significant reporting and other procedures will be necessary to comply with FERC requirements, which will require us to make additional expenditures. These factors may delay deployment of the Oregon PowerBuoy beyond calendar 2013.

[mappress]

Press release, March 14, 2013; Image: OPT