UR4energy: Underwater Robots for efficient ocean energy harvesting

Información del proyecto

UR4energy

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: 101188523

DOI

10.3030/101188523

Proyecto cerrado

Fecha de la firma de la CE 14 Agosto 2024

Fecha de inicio 1 Septiembre 2024

Fecha de finalización 28 Febrero 2026

Financiado con arreglo a

• European Research Council (ERC)

Coste total

Sin datos

Aportación de la UE

€ 150 000,00

Coordinado por

NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET NTNU
Norway

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

Período documentado: 2024-09-01 hasta 2026-02-28

Resumen del contexto y de los objetivos generales del proyecto

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.

Trabajo realizado desde el comienzo del proyecto hasta el final del período abarcado por el informe y los principales resultados hasta la fecha

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.

Avances que van más allá del estado de la técnica e impacto potencial esperado (incluida la repercusión socioeconómica y las implicaciones sociales más amplias del proyecto hasta la fecha)

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.