B2 - Novel device concepts - rethinking the mechanism of energy extraction
B - Fluid-structure Seabed Interaction
Challenges/Opportunities
Established devices are already optimised so have minimal opportunity to produce a performance step change; Limit of Economic Viability of Devices
Solution
Novel concepts, e.g. alternative turbine forms or wave harvesting devices, offer a disruptive step forward; To design to lower (for instance) the velocity of flow whilst achieving economic viability
Context and Need
A step change in cost reduction may only come from the development of novel technologies and new ideas for renewable energy generation. This can apply to all of ORE, where larger novel turbines may displace the conventional 3-bladed horizontal axis turbine (whether in wind or tidal). In wind, wave and tidal there is considerable scope for new disruptive concepts, if they can be conceived.
The areas for deployment would/could be expanded considerably by driving down the lower limits of the resource.
To date, extreme conditions have been researched but not necessarily the lower limits which has a very different challenge
Summary
Reducing the economic viability opens the potential for device deployment in UK; South America etc.
Impact Potential
The impact potential could be very significant. In order to displace existing technology there would need to be substantial CAPEX and OPEX advantages, perhaps through economies of scale at device level. The impact should be balanced against the difficulty in conceiving a novel concept.
Research Summary
Active research projects:
- LiftWEC H2020 (Grant 851885): The LiftWEC project involves the development of a novel wave energy converter whose primary coupling with the waves is through the generation of hydrodynamic lift on a rotating hydrofoil. This will be achieved by a combination of numerical/physical modelling and desk-based studies of the structural design, the operational & maintenance requirements and the environmental/social impacts of the technology.