SWEDEN
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Swedish companies, universities and institutes have been involved with several research and development projects during 2016. Below are just a few examples of these R&D projects:
WAVEBOOST
Participants: CorPower Ocean AB, EDP Innovation, EMEC, University of Edinburgh, WavEC, SP, GS Hydro and PMC cylinders
The project, that has received funding from the European Commission, focus on reliability and performance of novel direct drive PTOs. The efforts are expected to increase energy production, reduce CAPEX and improve grid integration of wave energy farms, resulting in a reduction in the cost of energy of up to 30 percent.
PREDICTION AND MITIGATION OF SNAP LOADS IN MOORING LINES
Participants: Chalmers University of Technology, CorPower Ocean AB, Seaflex Energy Systems AB
The project deals with the problem of snap loads in mooring cables of floating wave energy converters. New numerical methods for snap load propagation will be developed and used to assess snap load probability and magnitude in existing mooring design types. In particular, the snap load mitigating effect of the Seaflex® mooring material will be studied. The project will further design and develop a new solution for snap elimination in tension leg mooring systems. The solution will be specifically tailored for mooring the CorPower Ocean buoy, but it has potential use also for tension leg platforms for floating wind energy and other WECs. Field measurements and laboratory testing of the mooring response will be used to validate the numerical method and act as input to an optimisation of the design.
A NEW GENERATION OF PERMANENT MAGNET GENERATORS FOR MARINE ENERGY CONVERSION
Participants: Uppsala University, Seabased AB, Fortum Power and Heat AB
The project aims at using scientific methods to improve the design of slow moving, permanent magnet generators for marine energy conversion. The goal is to develop generators that have better performance, reduced cost, increased reliability, improved reproducibility and are more environmental friendly.
KITE FLIGHT: OPTIMIZATION OF OCEAN BASED POWER PLANTS
Participants: University of Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology, Minesto AB
All large scale flows in the ocean and atmosphere are fully turbulent, and tidal currents are no exception. The small scale variability connected to turbulence is an important factor to consider when designing equipment to work in a turbulent tidal current. In the present project, state-of-the-art numerical models are considered (belonging to the class of Large Eddy Simulation, or LES models) to quantify the turbulence levels in a realistic tidal flow situation. The target area is Holyhead Deep outside Wales. Turbulence levels in an ordinary tidal cycle as well as the case with an embedded tidal power plant will be considered, here the levels of added turbulence is targeted as well as its decay downstream. Together with the company MINESTO they will also evaluate the impact of the natural turbulence on the Deep Green Technology developed by the company.
MAPPING OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR OFFSHORE WAVE ENERGY CONVERSION IN THE SWEDISH EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE
Participants: Uppsala University, Geological Survey of Sweden, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute
In a new research project, Uppsala University and partners will study a variety of meteorological and geological variables of relevance to the establishment and operation of offshore wave energy conversion systems of point absorber type for high resolution mapping in the Swedish exclusive economic zone. Parameters to be studied include wave climate, seasonal ice conditions, water level fluctuations, sea depths and conditions on the seabed, surface current influence on drifting ice, regional environmental factors, protected and regulated areas, waterways, among other things. The technical wave energy potential will be predicted in various scenarios established through large park simulations of generic wave energy units of point absorber type through validated time domain models developed at Uppsala University. The most favourable zones for establishment of pilot sites with respect to the studied variables and simulated results will be identified and classified.
DEVELOPMENT OF A DURABLE WINCH SYSTEM FOR WAVE POWER
Participant: Royal Institute of Technology
The project aims to develop a rotating PTO system with a winch based solution. The focus is to develop the winch that has a much longer lifetime than ordinary chains.
COST EFFICIENCY OF MARINE POWER PLANTS
Participants: SSPA, Minesto AB, Moorlink Solutions AB
The project includes the development of the Minesto system with respect to: a) Design Optimization of control surfaces – rudders, b) Full scale effects going from ¼-scale to full scale, and c) Anchorage system.
