FEATURE IRELAND & SCOTLAND PROJECTS
Research Capability in Wave & Tidal Energy
Northern Ireland has been a leading location for research in wave and tidal for over 30 years and has been recognised globally for its expertise. By 2012, according to figures from the Global Maritime Alliance, one in four marine energy devices had been tested, manufactured, designed or consulted on in Northern Ireland.
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST (QUB)
In particular, QUB has a global reputation for its pioneering work in the research and development of marine energy technologies.
Professor Trevor Whittaker, who leads a 25 person team, has worked in this area for over 30 years. He is one of the industry’s pioneers, having been involved in the design and installation of both the UK’s first and second grid- connected wave power plants on the Isle of Islay in Scotland in the 1980s and 1990s.
EXPERIENCED TEAM He and his team also designed and tested Oyster I and Oyster II as well as LIMPET wave power devices.
QUB was also the first in the world to undertake an environmental monitoring of a full-scale marine device – research which lasted for over five years. The team also has expertise in prototype development and testing; modelling (physical, environmental and numerical) and concept evaluation.
FACILITIES
Much of the research has utilised the first class facilities at the university. A World Centre of Excellence for marine energy, it has wave tanks located at Portaferry and Belfast. These provide variable wave and current generation and speeds and the one located in Portaferry is unique in that it tests shallow water depth rather than deep water.
CENTRE FOR ADVANCED SUSTAINABLE ENERGY (CASE) Northern Ireland boasts 15 research centres across all areas of renewable energy. One of the newest is the competence centre – CASE, an industry led research centre which focuses on a number of different areas including wave and tidal.
ENTERNI PROJECT
Among the ventures they have been involved with so far is the EnTERNI project - a proposed tidal array testing facility off the northern coast of Northern Ireland.
In terms of research and development, it is hard to beat what Northern Ireland has to offer.
Invest Northern Ireland
PAGE 28
www.wavetidalenergynetwork.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52