Wedge Global

Flora

wedgeglo — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 19:47:30 +0000

Flora

This project has received 1.414.543,21€ from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) under Grant Agreement n°101077554.

Our project FLORA is an industrial-scale prototype of a purpose-built, self-powered, oceanic multi-use platform (MUP) with bird detection capabilities. Equipped with a novel sensor suite, FLORA will be deployable as a low environmental impact system for bird and biodiversity data acquisition, which is critical to Marine Spatial Planning (MSP).

The FLORA, an automated data acquisition tool, enhances the multi-use of ocean space by reducing the need for random sampling, estimation, and extrapolation, which are prevalent in current Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).

The European Commission’s 2020 Guide on Wind Energy Developments and EU Nature Legislation emphasizes the importance of basing assessments on high-quality, objective information and reliable data, using appropriate and robust scientific methodologies.

Utilizing radar-sensed spatial seabird data early on can facilitate the marine co-location of economic activities through Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), mitigate negative impacts on seabirds, and identify suitable areas for offshore wind development. The automated data collection enabled by the FLORA station accelerates the deployment of offshore renewables.

Based on our 2014 wave energy converter (W1) design, the new platform features environmental sensing capabilities that enable operational oceanography. Notably, the new model is equipped with a pioneering radar to collect long-term seabird data sets for environmental impact assessments and consenting of proposed offshore wind farms.

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SeaTitan

wedgeglo — Fri, 31 May 2024 19:47:31 +0000

SeaTitan

This project has received 3.890.341,75€ from the H2020-LCE-2017-RES-RIA-TwoStage call under Grant Agreement n°764014.

The 2018 SEATITAN project aimed to revolutionize the wave energy sector by developing, testing, and validating an advanced Direct Drive Power Take-Off (PTO) solution suitable for various wave energy converters.

In July 2021, as a part of the H2020 SeaTitan project we completed the manufacturing of an optimized PTO called ‘SeaTitan’. That “2nd generation” PTO is classed as an Azimuthal Multi-translator Switched Reluctance Machine (AMSRM).

Largely based on our 1st generation PTO, SeaTitan’s optimization is rooted in a new configuration and geometry applied to its predecessor’s design. These enhancements will solve one of the key issues found with different PTO systems: achieving sufficiently high peak force to limit hitting end-stops during large waves whilst maintaining high efficiency (and low cost) for the average wave case.

An official standardization process for the SeaTitan PTO was initiated where 2 CEN-CENELEC workshop agreements (CWA50271 and CWA50271) were established.

Our first industrial scale PTO was developed as a 200 kW linear drive in 2013. It was called ‘W200’. Our PTOs are based on a linear, direct-drive concept which can also be integrated into bespoke third-party WECs.

Our patented PTO is superior to alternatives because the power conversion happens in one straight step as opposed to multiple steps which invite conversion losses in the so-called energy capture chain. Our PTO is also classed as a switched reluctance machine which, as is known of reluctance motors, can deliver high power density at low cost. Overall switched reluctance machines are the most efficient types of power-takes-offs because of their design.

Moreover our PTO design includes no rare earth minerals nor magnets and this further renders our machines a highly sustainable option.

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More Projects

wedgeglo — Thu, 30 May 2024 19:47:32 +0000

Other Major R&D Achievements

In 2008 the main power conversion component – the PTO – was conceptualized, designed and developed: a rectangular, multi-translator, switched reluctance machine (RMSRM).

In 2011 through the publicly funded project UNDIGEN our PTO technology was validated for functionality in a 1:1 industrial-scale wave energy converter.

In 2014 through the publicly funded project UNDIGEN+ the WEC system was validated for use as a power supply for isolated loads through integration of energy storage systems.

In 2017 through the SMARTWEC project our system design was optimized through 3 main research lines: analysis and development of a PTO ancillary system, analysis and development of an active mooring system and analysis of protective systems for the WEC passive structures.

In 2018 we were awarded €3.9M by the EU Horizon 2020 program for our SeaTitan project.

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