Project description
Preparing for the commercial development of wave energy
Oceans represent a significant, predictable resource for renewable energy. The main forms of ocean energy are waves, tides, marine currents, salinity gradient and temperature gradient. While wave and tidal energy are the most mature technologies, the commercially viable extraction of energy from ocean waves has yet to be achieved. The EU-funded LiftWEC project focuses on the development of LiftWEC, a novel type of wave energy converter. Specifically, it will develop a new concept based on the exploitation of lift forces generated by wave-induced water velocities. Current concepts need to couple through diffraction or buoyancy forces, but this new approach will use lift forces (as opposed to the traditional buoyancy). In addition, the LiftWEC concept has the advantage that the motion can be unidirectional, which significantly simplifies the extraction of energy.
Objective
This proposal is for the development of a novel wave energy converter whose primary coupling with the waves is through hydrodynamic lift forces. The objective is to determine the potential of this concept to produce renewable energy at a commercially competitive price whilst ensuring a minimal environmental/social impact. This will be achieved by a combination of numerical/physical modelling and desk-based studies of the structural design, the operational & maintenance requirements and the environmental/social impacts of the technology. The numerical/physical modelling will demonstrate the concept’s performance, thereby taking the concept to TRL4, whilst the desk-based studies will allow the socially-acceptable commercial potential to be determined.
Wave energy is one of the few untapped sources of renewable energy that could make a significant contribution to the future energy system. However, a study of the literature and a patent search indicates that of the hundreds of concepts that have been developed only four couple to the waves through lift forces, whilst the rest couple through diffraction or buoyancy forces. However, coupling through lift forces has the significant advantage of reducing extreme loads (by reducing the circulation like a wind turbine) which facilitates survivability, and produces unidirectional rotation, which simplifies power extraction. Unfortunately, none of the current lift-based ave energy concepts have a high efficiency in all sea-states due to difficulties in maintaining a good lift-to-drag ratio. The novel ideas in this proposal are designed to achieve this and thus enable the commercial development of wave energy and the acceleration of clean energy solutions.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.3.3. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.3.3.2. - Low-cost, low-carbon energy supply
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
RIA - Research and Innovation action
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-LC-SC3-2018-2019-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
BT7 1NN BELFAST
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.