Researchers from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) have developed procedures and designs to obtain energy from marine currents in areas of great depths optimizing the costs.
The new devices using the energy from marine currents in great depths pose the problem of high cost of manufacturing, installation and maintenance. To tackle this issue, members of the Technological Research Group in Marine Renewable Energy (GITERM) at UPM have developed a method to assess the life-cycle cost of a power generation park based on these devices that can be used in the early design stages. The procedure has been recently published in the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.
Simulation of a 1.2 MW GESMEY device with a rotating and submerged buoy. Credit: UPM
After a wide development of offshore wind power, experts agree that the next step is the use of the energy from marine currents, mainly produced by the tides. Today, Europe and Canada are starting to install the first experimental parks based on devices set on the seabed, called of the first generation.
It is estimated that about 80% of the energy from tides are located in areas of over 40 meters of depth. Therefore it is necessary to use a new design device that can operate in areas where it is expensive to install first generation devices such as large structures held to the seabed. These systems of the second generation have anchors and a series of cables that hold the device to the seabed.
Amable López is a researcher from the GITERM group at the School of Naval Engineering at UPM and says, “Our GESMEY device, patented by the University, has been the first design worldwide tested in the sea and fit to operate fully submerged. Thanks to the cost analysis tool, we were able to assess diverse design alternatives with a final goal: to reduce as much as possible the production cost of the energy and to make this renewable source both financially and technically competitive, helping fight against climate change”.
These economic analyses are added to the development of new anchoring systems that use simpler and more robust systems, such as the ones shown in the article published this year in the Revista Iberoamericana de Automática e Informática industrial. Powerful tools of simulation and control are used to develop these systems, which were also developed by the GITREM group.
Simulation of the operation of a Hive-TEC device with its anchoring system. Credit: UPM
Thanks to these procedures and tools, the initial design of the GESMEY device and its anchoring system has evolved from generators with a large rotor (similar to the ones used in wind generators) to generators with several rotors, such as the Hive-TEC device (also patented by UPM) allowing to reduce the estimated cost of the energy produced by 30%.
The research group keeps working to achieve a future successful commercialization of tidal renewable energy devices since they have a great potential to generate power from the marine currents. José Andrés Somolinos, another researcher from GITERM says, “the energy from currents is a renewable source that has an additional value in a future energy market regarding other renewable energy sources due to its high predictability. Besides, tidal energy technologies are characterized by a CO2-free energy that contributes to the economic growth and job creation in coastal and remote areas”.
Learn more: Researchers make progress in obtaining energy from marine currents
The Latest on: Marine current power generation
[google_news title=”” keyword=”marine current power generation” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Marine current power generation
- Appledore Island solar array expanding for UNH-led ocean cable projecton April 30, 2024 at 2:25 am
A 30-kilowatt solar array will be installed on Appledore Island to benefit a cabled acoustic array project conducted by the University of New Hampshire on the Isles of Shoals’ largest island. The ...
- Waste Deepon April 29, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The good news is that the federal government has the power to limit the influence of megacorporations ... local slaughterhouse options for producers (Pingree 2023). Under the current system, because ...
- Testing the Waters: Scotland Surges Ahead on Ocean Poweron April 29, 2024 at 12:43 am
Tidal and wave energy may be the largest untapped resources of renewable energy on the planet. But will they work?
- 3 notable wind turbine innovations to eke out every Watton April 27, 2024 at 9:05 pm
Wind turbines are a towering solution in the global transition toward renewable energy. Today's turbines have undergone significant evolution since the time when windmills generated mechanical power ...
- Three candidates vie for spot as a Power County commissioneron April 27, 2024 at 1:45 pm
Three candidates are vying for an open position as a Power County commissioner. Current Commissioner Ronald Funk is not seeking re-election. Republicans Robyn Adkins, Jason Todd Povey and Launa Lee ...
- OSG’s LCO2 transportation plans get a $3 million booston April 23, 2024 at 9:28 am
OSG president and CEO Sam Norton: “Transporting liquified CO2 is a natural next step into an exciting emerging market, consistent with OSG’s expertise with liquid cargoes.“ ...
- The Analyst Verdict: Kirby In The Eyes Of 4 Expertson April 22, 2024 at 7:00 am
The 12-month price targets assessed by analysts reveal further insights, featuring an average target of $116.0, a high estimate of $126.00, and a low estimate of $105.00. This upward trend is evident, ...
- Maritime Risk Symposium 2024 – Great Power Competition and Gray Zone Engagementon April 16, 2024 at 11:52 am
For 15 years the Maritime Risk Symposium (MRS), an annual three-day event, has brought together government and maritime industry ...
- CMC Gen. Smith’s Latest Guidance to the Marine Corpson April 2, 2024 at 3:14 am
The entire Marine Corps, active ... time to reflect over the past few months and remain firmly committed to our current path. This Frag Order serves as a bridge between White Letter 1-23 and ...
via Bing News