scholarly journals WECANet: The First Open Pan-European Network for Marine Renewable Energy with a Focus on Wave Energy-COST Action CA17105

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasiliki Stratigaki
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
European Network ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Cost Action ◽  
Marine Renewable Energy

Growing energy demand has increased interest in marine renewable energy resources (i.e., wave energy, which is harvested through wave energy converter (WEC) arrays. However, the wave energy industry is currently at a significant juncture in its development, facing a number of challenges which require that research re-focuses on a holistic techno-economic perspective, where the economics considers the full life cycle costs of the technology. It also requires development of WECs suitable for niche markets, because in Europe there are inequalities regarding wave energy resources, wave energy companies, national programs and investments. As a result, in Europe there are leading and non-leading countries in wave energy technology. The sector also needs to increase confidence of potential investors by reducing (non-)technological risks. This can be achieved through an interdisciplinary approach by involving engineers, economists, environmental scientists, lawyers, regulators and policy experts. Consequently, the wave energy sector needs to receive the necessary attention compared to other more advanced and commercial offshore energy technologies (e.g., offshore wind). The formation of the first open pan-European network with an interdisciplinary approach will contribute to large-scale WEC array deployment by dealing with the current bottlenecks. The WECANet (Wave Energy Converter Array Network) European COST Action, introduced in September 2018 and presented in this paper, aims at a collaborative and inclusive approach, as it provides a strong networking and collaboration platform that also creates the space for dialogue between all stakeholders in wave energy. An important characteristic of the Action is that participation is open to all parties interested and active in the development of wave energy. Previous activities organised by WECANet core group members have resulted in a number of joint European projects and scientific publications. WECANet’s main target is the equal research, training, networking, collaboration and funding opportunities for all researchers and professionals, regardless of age, gender and country in order to obtain understanding of the main challenges governing the development of the wave energy sector.

Testing the WET-NZ Wave Energy Converter Using the Ocean Sentinel Instrumentation Buoy

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 164-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry Lettenmaier ◽  
Annette von Jouanne ◽  
Ean Amon ◽  
Sean Moran ◽  
Alister Gardiner
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
State University ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Private Company ◽  
Research Consortium

AbstractThis paper describes ocean testing of the half-scale Wave Energy Technology-New Zealand (WET-NZ) prototype wave energy converter (WEC) using the Ocean Sentinel instrumentation buoy during a 6-week deployment period in August‐October 2012. These tests were conducted by the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center (NNMREC) at its Pacific Ocean test site off the coast of Newport, Oregon. The WET-NZ is the product of a research consortium between Callaghan Innovation, a New Zealand Crown Entity, and Power Projects Limited (PPL), a Wellington, New Zealand private company. The Oregon deployment was project managed by Northwest Energy Innovations (NWEI), a Portland, OR firm. NNMREC is a Department of Energy sponsored partnership between Oregon State University (OSU), the University of Washington (UW), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The Ocean Sentinel instrumentation buoy is a 6-m surface buoy, developed in 2012, that provides a stand-alone electrical load, WEC generator control, and data collection for WECs being tested. The Ocean Sentinel was deployed and operated for the first time during the 2012 WET-NZ tests. During these tests, the operation of the WET-NZ was demonstrated and its performance was characterized, while also proving successful deployment and operation of the Ocean Sentinel.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study of Metaheuristic Algorithms for Wave Energy Converter Power Take-Off Optimisation: A Case Study for Eastern Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 490
Author(s):  
Erfan Amini ◽  
Danial Golbaz ◽  
Rojin Asadi ◽  
Mahdieh Nasiri ◽  
Oğuzhan Ceylan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Search Space ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Gray Wolf ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Energy Company ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Eastern Australia

One of the most encouraging sorts of renewable energy is ocean wave energy. In spite of a large number of investigations in this field during the last decade, wave energy technologies are recognised as neither mature nor broadly commercialised compared to other renewable energy technologies. In this paper, we develop and optimise Power Take-off (PTO) configurations of a well-known wave energy converter (WEC) called a point absorber. This WEC is a fully submerged buoy with three tethers, which was proposed and developed by Carnegie Clean Energy Company in Australia. Optimising the WEC’s PTO parameters is a challenging engineering problem due to the high dimensionality and complexity of the search space. This research compares the performance of five state-of-the-art metaheuristics (including Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy, Gray Wolf optimiser, Harris Hawks optimisation, and Grasshopper Optimisation Algorithm) based on the real wave scenario in Sydney sea state. The experimental achievements show that the Multiverse optimisation (MVO) algorithm performs better than the other metaheuristics applied in this work.

scholarly journals Wind–Wave Coupling Effect on the Dynamic Response of a Combined Wind–Wave Energy Converter

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1101
Author(s):  
Jinghui Li ◽  
Wei Shi ◽  
Lixian Zhang ◽  
Constantine Michailides ◽  
Xin Li
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Dynamic Response ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Wind Wave ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Coupled Analysis ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Combined System ◽  
Energy Devices

There is a huge energy demand from offshore renewable energy resources. To maximize the use of various renewable energy sources, a combined floating energy system consisting of different types of energy devices is an ideal option to reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) by sharing the infrastructure of the platform and enhancing the power production capacity. This study proposed a combined concept of energy systems by combing a heave-type wave energy converter (WEC) with a semisubmersible floating wind turbine. In order to investigate the power performance and dynamic response of the combined concept, coupled aero-hydro-servo-elastic analysis was carried out using the open-source code F2A, which is based on the coupling of the FAST and AQWA tools by integrating all the possible environmental loadings (e.g., aerodynamic, hydrodynamic). Numerical results obtained by AQWA are used to verify the accuracy of the coupled model in F2A in predicting dynamic responses of the combined system. The main hydrodynamic characteristics of the combined system under typical operational conditions were examined, and the calculated responses (motions, mooring line tension and produced wave power) are discussed. Additionally, the effect of aerodynamic damping on the dynamic response of the combined system was examined and presented. Moreover, a second fully coupled analysis model was developed, and its response predictions were compared with the predictions of the model developed with F2A in order for the differences of the calculated responses resulted by the different modeling techniques to be discussed and explained. Finally, the survivability of the combined concept has been examined for different possible proposed survival modes.

scholarly journals Comparative Study of Oscillating Surge Wave Energy Converter Performance: A Case Study for Southern Coasts of the Caspian Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10932
Author(s):  
Erfan Amini ◽  
Rojin Asadi ◽  
Danial Golbaz ◽  
Mahdieh Nasiri ◽  
Seyed Taghi Omid Naeeni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Caspian Sea ◽  
Geometric Model ◽  
Wave Energy Converter ◽  
Total Power ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Applied Forces

The search for renewable energy supplies for today’s global energy demand, particularly ocean wave energy for coastal areas, has become undeniably widespread in the last two decades. The Caspian Sea represents an immense opportunity for using ocean renewable energy, especially considering its long shoreline. In this study, the locations with maximum potential wave energy were chosen in the central, eastern, and western zones of the Caspian Sea’s southern coasts. Accordingly, the wave and bathymetric data were used as the input to calculate the oscillating surge wave energy converter’s flap geometric dimensions based on previous studies. Then, the geometric model was designed, and then the wave energy converters were modeled in the Wave Energy Converter Simulator (WEC-Sim) module in the MATLAB software. Furthermore, eight models in each sea state were simulated to find the best value of the PTO damping coefficient, which led to the highest capture factor. Finally, all the external forces on the WEC’s flap and the converter’s power output results were compared, taking into account the effects of the flap height on the total power output. It was found that Nowshahr port has more potential than the Anzali and Amirabad ports, as the converter’s absorbed power proved to be 16.7 kW/m (Capture factor = 63%) at this site. Consequently, by conducting a comparative analysis between the selected sites, the excitation, radiation damping, and power take-off forces were scrutinized. The results show that the highest applied forces to the converter’s flap occurred at Nowshahr port, followed by the Anzali and Amirabad ports, due to the directional characteristics of the waves at the central coasts of the Caspian Sea.

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