Project description
AI-powered control framework for hybrid wind-wave energy systems
Offshore hybrid wind-wave energy systems can reduce renewable energy costs. However, the complex dynamics involved in the integration of floating wind turbines and wave energy converters make management challenging and affect overall performance. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the DRIFT project aims to use AI to develop a control framework for hybrid wind-wave energy systems. It will develop a detailed numerical model and train a deep reinforcement learning controller to improve stability and energy capture. A model predictive control layer will ensure safety and adherence to operational constraints, aiming to reduce platform motion by 30 % and increase energy capture by 25 %. The project will validate the model through hardware-in-the-loop experiments.
Objective
Offshore hybrid wind-wave energy systems that integrate floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) and wave energy converters (WECs) hold significant potential for cost reduction of renewable energy, crucial for energy security and climate neutrality of the EU. However, control of the integrated WECs on these hybrid systems is extremely challenging, due to their complex, multi-physics dynamics under variable ocean conditions. Existing control approaches all face a fundamental dilemma between model accuracy and control optimality: empirical control can be tuned against high-fidelity models but has few adjustable parameters, leading to suboptimality, while model-based optimal control can only employ a simplified model with significant inaccuracies. Consequently, system performance has been strictly limited. DRIFT aims to embed AI to develop a definitive control framework for hybrid wind-wave energy systems, to completely solve the dilemma. First, a high-fidelity numerical model with full aero-hydro-structural-mooring dynamics will be developed. Then, a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) controller will be trained directly on that model to improve platform stability and wave energy generation. Further, a robust model predictive control (MPC) layer will be designed to act as a safety shield to enforce operational constraints. This control strategy will simultaneously ensure effectiveness (reducing 30% platform motion and increasing 25% wave energy capture), safety (guaranteed constraint satisfaction), and computational efficiency (>100 Hz control frequency on industrial embedded controllers), and will be validated in hardware-in-the-loop experiments. The project builds on the applicant and the main supervisor’s strong research foundation in control of offshore renewable energy systems and will be supported by a dedicated mentor in offshore dynamics. The dedicated training, effective work plan, and risk management strategy will ensure successful project delivery.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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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.
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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M13 9PL Manchester
United Kingdom
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