CARNEGIE CLEAN ENERGY LIMITED This Project will develop the novel Mooring Tensioner, a key component that will support the use of rotary power take-off systems and associated cost reductions for wave energy converters.
What will the Project deliver
The Project will develop a Mooring Tensioner, a critical subsystem that will support costeffective wave energy converters. The wave energy industry has fundamentally demonstrated that it is possible to capture wave energy and convert it to electricity. The task now is to reduce cost and improve performance. Wave energy converters (WECs) are targeting a significant portion of the energy market while continuing to leverage the unique properties of predictability and consistency provided by waves. The wave energy industry is in its infancy and, as an untapped renewable energy resource, has significant market potential around the world. Ocean Energy Europe (OEE) has forecast a
A wave energy converter's power take-off system (PTO) converts the kinetic energy captured from the waves into electrical energy. The PTO represents a significant portion of the overall cost of a wave energy converter making it a prime target for system cost reductions. Many wave energy converters are converging towards rotary electric PTOs which can leverage emerging innovations from wind power and the worldwide trend towards electric vehicles. Wave energy converters can redeploy these innovations to reduce the cost and increase the performance of the PTO. To unlock cost reductions associated with the use of a rotary electric PTO, wave energy converters need a way to balance the rotary mechanical energy storage and mooring line pretension. This Project will develop a Mooring Tensioner to address this technical gap and unlock cost reductions for Carnegie and other wave energy developers. Carnegie has already completed initial work to develop the concept and explore the benefits provided by an advanced composite material Mooring Tensioner. The Mooring Tensioner will be constructed using high performance, light weight and durable fibre reinforced composites, allowing easier integration to the space constrained WEC environment.
The project will include investigations into additional applications for the Mooring Tensioner. The Mooring Tensioner can offer an attractive alternative to current mooring systems for various marine applications, for example to anchor fish cages and service vessels employed in the offshore aquaculture industry. This innovation has the potential to offer improved station keeping of the moored systems in energetic wave environments where long mooring chains that hold the vessel in place typically allow large excursions from the desired location. Ultimately, the balance of Carnegie's PTO technology can be employed to generate energy for the operation. Successful deployment of the proposed Mooring Tensioner is also expected to reduce the environmental impact of the mooring systems by limiting contact with the seabed. The Project will further explore the other market opportunities for the Mooring Tensioner.
About the
The Blue Economy CRC brings together national and international expertise in aquaculture, marine renewable energy and marine engineering, as part of a single, collaborative project. Through integration of the knowledge and expertise across these sectors, this CRC paves the way for innovative, commercially viable and sustainable offshore developments that will see significant changes in marine renewable energy output and seafood production.
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