Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy (MaREI) has released a video featuring footage of the Global Renewable Solutions’ (GRS) hybrid platform designed to harness the energy from both winds and waves.
GRS’ scaled hybrid platform has been under trials in MaREI in Ireland throughout last year. The device comprises 6 oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy devices, and a single wind turbine.
The full-scale device will have a total installed capacity of 6MW – six 500kW OWC generators, and one 3MW wind turbine.
Tony Lewis , a Principal Investigator in MaREI and Professor Emeritus at the University College Cork (UCC), said: “The system itself is located in relatively shallow waters. Any servicing will be relatively easy to undertake, but also, it becomes rather environmentally friendly in the fact that it doesn’t have moving parts in the ocean, so it won’t then interact in a negative way with the environment.”
GRS is an Australian-based renewable energy developer working together with Wood Group Kenny, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), and MaREI, for the development of the wave and wind hybrid power platform.