Wave Energy Scotland is awarding almost £1m to two projects to advance the development of control systems technology for wave energy devices.
MaxSim is lead contractor on the CEORL or Cost of Energy Optimised by Reinforced Learning project, which will receive £475,000.
It aims to use reinforcement learning for good control policies for several classes of wave energy converters.
Others involved in the project are REOptimize Systems, AquaHarmonics, Wave Conundrums Consulting, University of Edinburgh, Quoceant, Caelulum, Marine Systems Modelling.
The second project is led by Queen Mary University in London and is called adaptive hierarchical model predictive control of wave energy converters.
The project aims to contribute a technology that allows a significant reduction in the through life installed capacity cost of wave energy converters.
It receives £500,348 and also includes Mocean Energy and the University of Exeter.
Both projects will see the control systems technology demonstrated in model wave devices in Scottish wave tanks, such as the FloWave facility in Edinburgh.
WES managing director Tim Hurst said: “I’m delighted to see these projects going into stage three to conduct a physical demonstration of their advanced control system concepts. Both offer promising solutions to managing the efficiency and safety of wave energy converters. I look forward to their completion next year.”