Freak Waves & Tides Simulated in New Wave Tank
The new FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility at Scotland's Edinburgh University can simulate waves 28m high – and tidal currents simultaneously – in a world-class testing facility for marine energy devices recently inaugurated at the University. The University explains that researchers and industrial partners can use the facility to develop and refine full-scale devices. These could include wave and tidal energy converters, floating offshore wind platforms, and vessels to install and maintain offshore projects. Testing devices at scale in a tank can enable research milestones to be achieved in days or weeks, compared with months or years in open water. This accelerated development should help bring clean energy products to market more quickly and cost-effectively, at lower risk.
Tidal Energy Modelling Tool Launched
The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) and HR Wallingford launched a tidal energy modeling tool for use by tidal energy developers to identify the most efficient sites for tidal energy converters, tidal arrays or tidal barrage schemes around the U.K. and French coastlines. The computer program, SMARTtide (Simulated Marine Array Resource Testing), incorporates a 2D hydrodynamic model of the U.K.’s continental shelf and the north-west European coastline. The software will be available to the public from May 21 as a fee-for-service via a portal on HR Wallingford’s website.
