UK product testing outfit Intertek has been invited by Cardiff University to become an industrial partner to support a three-year tidal stream turbine research project.
The project will examine various tidal stream turbine array configurations for layout optimisation and develop operational procedures to mitigate the impacts of extreme loading patterns.
The London company said its researchers would use experimental and numerical analyses to ensure that the results and findings are transferable to real-life applications.
The ultimate aim is to help developers to safeguard tidal arrays from being damaged by currents, waves or wind.
Intertek project lead Paul Evans said: “This project has real potential to move the UK’s tidal energy industry forward from its current early-stage status to a future where full-scale, grid-connected arrays form a key part of the UK’s energy mix.”
Image: Cardiff Marine Energy Research Group (Cardiff University)
Intertek offers tidal support
Three-year turbine test programme examine array layout optimisation
By EBS