A hybrid testing platform for ocean energy has received a €5m funding boost from the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme.
It is hoped the VALID project will offer a step change in the testing and standardisation of ocean energy devices and components.
The three-year H2020 project, kicking off 1st of December 2020, is specifically designed to develop a platform for accelerated testing with methodologies by combining the virtual and physical environment.
It is also hoped it can reduce costs in the product developing process, tackle scaling challenges and lowering uncertainties once fully demonstrated in the ocean.
VALID will use and adapt novel Hybrid Testing methodologies frequently used in the automotive industry through three different case studies that are specific to the ocean energy sector.
This is expected to establish the correlation between the ocean and the lab conditions, allowing for common testing procedures and convergence in technology across Europe.
Currently most laboratory testing has been focused solely on functionality (proof of concept and performance assessment), disregarding other key performance measures such as reliability and survivability.
VALID aims to integrate both reliability and survivability testing methods together with relevant data on component failures (from ongoing and recently completed projects) early in the design and testing process.
The project will draw on expertise from leading research companies including Fundación Tecnalia Research & Innovation, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and the Biscay Marine Energy Platform.
Also involved are Aalborg University and Technical University of Delft, as well as industrial experts Corpower Ocean AB; Rina Consulting Spa; Idom Consulting, Engineering, Architecture S.A.U; AVL LIST GMBH; Yavin Four Consultants; Wavepiston AS; Aquatera Sustainability Ireland Ltd; and consulting engineer Julia F. Chozas.
RISE senior project manager Pierre Ingmarsson said: “This ambitious project will provide a step change in testing and standardisation of ocean energy devices and components.
“It provides an open platform for hybrid and accelerated testing that will ensure the reliability, availability, maintainability and survivability during the lifetime of the technology ensuring cost efficient solutions.”