UR4energy: Underwater Robots for efficient ocean energy harvesting

Projektinformationen

UR4energy

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 101188523

DOI

10.3030/101188523

Projekt abgeschlossen

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 14 August 2024

Startdatum 1 September 2024

Enddatum 28 Februar 2026

Finanziert unter

• European Research Council (ERC)

Gesamtkosten

Keine Daten

EU-Beitrag

€ 150 000,00

Koordiniert durch

NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET NTNU
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - UR4energy (UR4energy: Underwater Robots for efficient ocean energy harvesting)

Berichtszeitraum: 2024-09-01 bis 2026-02-28

Zusammenfassung vom Kontext und den Gesamtzielen des Projekts

There has been a widespread effort to develop alternative renewable energy resources, such as hydroelectric, wind, and solar power, to supply the grid with sustainable energy that will replace fossil fuel use. However, the global contribution of renewables is insufficient to meet the energy demands of the global population. While Europe is ahead of other continents, the trend in the uptake of renewable energy solutions is slow, increasing from 21.9% to 23% between 2021 and 2022. This slow uptake of renewable energy solutions is due to intermittency and unreliability for continuous use (for example, solar is only available during the day, and its efficiency depends heavily on the weather), inability to generate sufficient energy volumes, and disruption of habitats and our perception of nature. Exploring novel avenues for renewable energy generation can provide new opportunities to meet future energy demands. Despite proven successes in wave and tidal energy conversion, widespread adoption is constrained by challenging environments and high maintenance costs. Advancing ocean energy as a viable renewable source requires new technological solutions.

Arbeit, die ab Beginn des Projekts bis zum Ende des durch den Bericht erfassten Berichtszeitraums geleistet wurde, und die wichtigsten bis dahin erzielten Ergebnisse

A prototype was developed with sensors and software that enable performance measurement and parameter adjustment. Experiments were conducted to map the prototype's performance as parameters were varied.

Furthermore, an algorithm was developed and implemented to optimize performance, successfully achieving the optimal configuration found in the mapping.

Fortschritte, die über den aktuellen Stand der Technik hinausgehen und voraussichtliche potenzielle Auswirkungen (einschließlich der bis dato erzielten sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen und weiter gefassten gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Projekts)

The results indicate that a snake-like structure can be used to harvest energy. However, they also show that small variations in wake conditions significantly affect the optimal configuration, highlighting the need for an adaptive optimization algorithm to ensure efficient energy harvesting. Therefore, such an algorithm was implemented and tested, showing that it can achieve the optimal distance from the bluff body.

Further research is required to investigate the mechanisms for energy extraction and to quantify the actual power output.