OES Annual Report 2012 - Ocean Energy Systems

23
04 / COUNTRY REPORTS
Demowfloat project as well as EU Seanergy 2020 project and to the development of a new roadmap for
Portuguese offshore energy. The continuous improvement of a Geographical Information System (GIS)
database, developed at LNEG for site selection of wave energy farms, has continued to provide guidance
for installation of wave energy devices in the country.
Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) has been active in the development of a spar-buoy oscillating water column
wave energy converter. Model testing at scale 1:16 took place in September and October 2012 at the large
wave tank of The National Renewable Energy Centre (NAREC),Northern England, within the framework
of the European programme MARINET. The work also includes topologies for slack mooring systems of
compact arrays. Development work is also being performed at IST on a new type of self-rectifying air
turbine, named Biradial turbine, for wave energy applications. Results from model testing indicate that
the turbine is capable of remarkably good performance. IST is collaborating with the Portuguese company
Kymaner in the design of a prototype of the turbine to be tested at the Pico OWC plant, in the Azores.
Another new concept of a floating wave energy converter (WEC) is under investigation and development.
It is based on a closed asymmetric floater with an internal U-tank partially filled with water and two lateral
reservoirs connected with a tube. During the reporting period improvements have been made on the
numerical model of this WEC.
Instituto Superior Técnico will provide, starting in February 2013, a full one-semester specialization on
Ocean Renewable Energy (waves, tidal currents, offshore wind), integrated into the three-semester
European Master in Renewable Energy organized by the European Renewable Energy Research Centre
(EUREC) Agency and involving 11 European Universities.
Participation in Collaborative International Projects
MARINET (2011-2015) - The aim of this project is to coordinate research and development at all scales
(small models through to prototype scales from laboratory through to open sea tests) and to allow access
for researchers and developers into facilities, which are not available universally in Europe. WavEC and IST
are participating in this project.
TROPOS (2011-2015) - “Modular Multi-use Deep Water Offshore Platform Harnessing and Servicing
Mediterranean, Subtropical and Tropical Marine and Maritime Resources”. The aim is to develop a floating
modular multi-use platform system for use in deep waters. WavEC is participating in this project.
SOWFIA (2010-2012) – “Streamlining of Ocean Wave Farms Impact Assessment”. The aim is to facilitate the
development of European wide, coordinated, unified, and streamlined environmental and socio-economic
Impact Assessment tools for offshore wave energy conversion developments. WavEC is participating in
this project.
FAME (2010-2012) - “The Future of the Atlantic Marine Environment” - financed by the EC INTERREG IV
programme, with the aim to link the protection of natural values, specifically biodiversity (avifauna) with
economic activities at the European Atlantic Ocean. WavEC is participating in this project.
WAVEPORT (2009-2012) - “Demonstration & Deployment of a Commercial Scale Wave Energy Converter
with an Innovative Real Time Wave by Wave Tuning System”, with the aim to demonstrate a large scale grid
connected Powerbuoy Technology. WavEC is participating in this project.
DEMOWFLOAT (2011-2014) - The objective of the DEMOWFLOAT project is to demonstrate the longterm
Windfloat performance, operationality, maintainability, reliability, platform accessibility, feasible grid
integration on a modular basis, among several other aspects with an impact on availability of the system
and, therefore, on the cost of produced energy. LNEG and WavEC have been participating in this project.
SEANERGY 2020 (2009-2012) - The objective of the SEANERGY 2020 project is to formulate and to
promote concrete policy recommendations on how to best deal with and remove maritime spatial planning
(MSP) policy obstacles to the deployment of offshore renewable power generation. LNEG has been
participating in this project.