Marine-energy developers have been offered the chance to compete for a week of free testing – worth £38,000 ($61,000) – with what is said to be the world’s most sophisticated ocean simulator.
The FloWave Prize, or FPrize, is aimed at researchers studying for postgraduate degrees or beyond, who must put forward their very best new ideas to be tested at scale.
Edinburgh University’s FloWave research facility is an 82 feet circular pool that can recreate complex waves and fast currents for projects in the UK, North America and elsewhere.
It is said to be the first and only test facility of its kind in the world.
FPrize contenders are to submit a two-page initial proposal for a potential marine-energy device no later than January 31, 2015.
Applications will be judged by a panel including representatives of FloWave, the International Network on Offshore Renewable Energy and Edinburgh University, and the winner will be unveiled in the summer. The tank will be available to the successful entrant during July or August.
Full details of the prize will be published on the FloWave website on December 1.
FloWave chief executive Stuart Brown said: “We can now see a number of marine renewable-energy devices being tested full scale in energetic environments at sea.
“The significant technical and environmental challenges these machines face underlines the need to reap maximum benefit from scale testing in a realistic and controllable environment beforehand in order to de-risk and optimise designs and to further reduce the cost of clean energy from the ocean.
“We hope applicants will seize this opportunity to propose new concepts and industry-enabling technologies, thereby helping to accelerate the commercialisation and global growth of clean ocean energy.
“We are particularly keen to see some innovative blue sky thinking from applicants, and for collaborative projects that really lead the way to a sustainable energy supply for the future.”
Recommended for you
