The shoreline location was seen as a logical first step in the development and demonstration of wave energy technologies, as access for operation and maintenance was easier, possible in all but the worst weather.

The mechanical and electrical plant for the prototype was commissioned in 1991, with alternative turbine configurations tested in 1995 and 1996.

[1] Islay LIMPET was a shoreline device using an Oscillating Water Column to drive air in and out of a pressure chamber through a Wells self-rectifying turbine.

[3] The plant could be remotely operated from the Wavegen offices in Inverness, or from QUB in Belfast by ISDN links.

[5] The plant has been decommissioned, and as of 2018 all installations except the concrete construction making up the wave chamber have been removed.