The direct drive power take-off (PTO) system – being developed as part of the TiPA project – has completed three months of performance testing at RWTH Aachen University in Germany.
The PTO subsystem underwent a ‘rigorous testing regime’ – designed by Nova Innovation and RWTH Aachen University – to test the performance, reliability, and survivability of the novel subsystem.
The subsystem has been returned to Nova Innovation’s manufacturing facility in Edinburgh where it will undergo a forensic inspection before being deployed for in-sea testing during winter 2018, according to project developers.
The completion of the PTO performance testing marks an important move forward for the Tidal Turbine Power Take-off Accelerator (TiPA) project , which received €4.4 million through the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Program for research and innovation.
The TiPA consortium – led by Scottish company Nova Innovation which provided tidal turbine direct drive generator for the project – also includes Siemens , with the responsibility for the power electronics for the project.
Other consortium partners include SKF , the University of Edinburgh , RWTH Aachen University, Delft Technical University , and Wood Group .
The project – completing two year since its launch this month – has been organized around the development of the technology that would reduce lifetime costs of tidal power by 20%, and provide long-term system reliability.
Upon completion of the three-year project, a commercialization strategy will be developed, for selling and licensing the PTO to tidal energy technology developers and to explore potential uses outside the tidal sector.