Back to search

RENERGI-Fremtidens rene energisystemer

Development of a generic model/set of tools for prediction of waves in areas close the coast - to be used for wave energy development

Awarded: NOK 1.4 mill.

To be able to support commercial development of wave energy power plants, good tools are needed for understanding the wave conditions locally. A developer of wave energy plants will need good generic tools for selecting suitable sites. Areas with extreme wave conditions should be avoided at the same time as good enough energy waves are needed. In addition the operator needs the right tools to be able to predict wave conditions the comming 24-48 hours for proper control of the power plant and forecasting e nergy production. A number of tools have been build for wave modelling at offshore conditions. We have not been able to identify commercially available products directly applicable for wave energy purposes. For this we need fine grid models for near sh ore conditions also taking into account bottom topography, wind and currents, and that can be used as forecasting tools. The projects aims at using the experience of the participants to develop generic models for wave modelling and prediction, compare mo dels generated for a specific site at Karmøy and calibrate these against one year of wave bouy data. The partners in the project are carefully selected to cover different competency areas. Fobox will contribute with the wave energy converter FO3, experie nce from 1:3 scale sea tests of the wave energy power plant and wave bouy data from the relevant site at Karmøy. Norwegian Meteorologcal Institute brings in a number of tools and methods to be used as well as knowledge from other ongoing projects along th e Norwegian coast. Polytec knows the local conditions at Karmøy and will bring in their STWAVE model built for Sletta. Kystverket owns the Sletta model and data, and will also contribute with knowledge from other ongoing activities. The results from this project will be utilised extensively by FOBOX as a developer and operator of wave energy power plants. The generic knowledge and models generated will be important also for other developers in the future.

Funding scheme:

RENERGI-Fremtidens rene energisystemer