DTOcean is creating a decision-making and planning tool for the development of large-scale wave and tidal power farms of the future, according to European Commission.
With the help of this tool, the array’s operator will be able to calculate the best layout and balance of options for both cost and reliability, as well as how to keep the impact on the environment minimal.
Aside from answering questions about the types of inter-array subsea cables necessary to connect the converter arrays to the power grid, and recommending the best types of moorings and foundations and models of installation vessels, the computer-based tool will also make recommendations on the best possible operation and maintenance strategy for the planned installation.
For instance, an operator might choose a certain type of installation vessel, cable type and layout for 20 devices, but a different set of options might be more cost-effective and reliable for 50 devices.
Henry Jeffrey , senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Engineering and principal investigator for the DTOcean project, said: “Our project gives the opportunity to provide long-term planning for the sector. Rather than waiting until it will be needed in a few years’ time, we are paving the way for the future of wave and tidal energy now.”
DTOcean is a European collaborative project funded by the European Commission. DTOcean, which stands for Optimal Design Tools for Ocean Energy Arrays, aims to accelerate the industrial development of ocean energy power generation knowledge, and provide design tools for deploying the first generation of wave and tidal energy converter arrays. It gathers 18 partners from 11 countries under the coordination of the University of Edinburgh.
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Image: DTOcean/Illustration