The EU-backed CRIMSON project has moved to the next stage with the delivery of new foils for ORPC’s tidal energy turbine.
The €3.9 million CRIMSON project brings together ÉireComposites and four other organizations including NUI Galway, Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (MCAM), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), and ORPC.
As the project reaches month 25 of 30, the ÉireComposites team has manufactured a new turbine foil for ORPC.
The turbine foil was then equipped with a new fiber optic strain measurement system installed by PhotonFirst.
After that, the test rig was loaded up and delivered to University of Galway, where it will will be put through its paces.
After initial testing at University of Galway, the device will undergo submerged tow tank testing in the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-INM) in Rome, marking the next stage of the CRIMSON project, ORPC said.
The CRIMSON project is investigating bringing to market ORPC’s marine energy river and tidal turbine with foils made entirely of recycled carbon fiber , while also reducing capital expenditure and operating expenditure by 33% and 66%, respectively.
The project impact is expected to be two-fold, as it is expected to reduce technology manufacturing costs, and lower the environmental footprint of the materials employed in the turbine, leading to a more sustainable model of manufacturing within the sector.
The project is a continuation of previous research conducted by SEAI, and is supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta and Enterprise Ireland, who continue to assist the work undertaken by ÉireComposites.