US researchers’ new tool to optimize ocean-based hydrokinetic energy projects
Researchers have developed a new tool to aid in designing ocean-based hydrokinetic energy projects.
The North Carolina State University (NC State) team’s tool helps to improve technology and assess risks, which is crucial for getting approval and funding for commercial projects.
Marine hydrokinetic devices help produce electricity from the mechanical energy of the ocean’s waves, currents, and tides.
“We hope our model will be useful for advancing successful marine hydrokinetic energy projects and technologies that will make meaningful contributions to renewable energy,” said Anderson de Queiroz, an associate professor of civil, construction, and environmental engineering at NC State and co-author of the research paper, in a statement.
Offshore project fragility
As global concerns over climate change and sustainability grow, the deployment of renewable energy, led by solar and onshore wind, is expected to increase.
Offshore renewables, including marine hydrokinetic devices, also show promise for diversifying energy sources. The US targets 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030, while the EU aims for 300 GW by 2050.
According to the team, marine hydrokinetic technologies show potential as key contributors to future sustainable energy portfolios.
However, the same ocean currents and waves that enable these devices to generate electricity can also pose a risk during extreme weather events like hurricanes and tropical storms. High winds and strong waves may damage the devices, potentially causing them to break free from their moorings and anchoring systems.
Furthermore, marine hydrokinetic energy projects are costly to launch. “If a developer is proposing a marine hydrokinetic project, it will need to apply for permits and get insurance – and both of those things will require the developer to do a robust risk assessment. That’s where fragility curve estimates come in,” said Mo Gabr, professor of civil engineering and construction at NC State and co-author of the paper, in a statement.
Risk assessments require understanding the amount of force a marine hydrokinetic device can handle before it detaches from the ocean floor. According to researchers, a fragility curve provides this information by estimating the force a device can withstand from hurricanes or storms before its mooring system fails, leading to damage.
Hydrokinetic risk tool
Researchers have developed software to support marine hydrokinetic projects, focusing on ocean current turbines. The tool is designed to achieve two key objectives.
First, it allows users to estimate the fragility curve for their specific project, taking into account the characteristics of the hydrokinetic devices, mooring, and anchoring systems. This helps in assessing how much force the system can handle before failure occurs.
Second, the software includes a hydrodynamic simulation feature, enabling users to visualize how their systems respond to various currents and wind speeds. This simulation is crucial for optimizing the design of more resilient devices and mooring systems.
The team claims that by inputting data such as ocean currents, wind speeds, and device specifications, users can determine the likelihood of a system detaching from its moorings at a given site and evaluate the force thresholds their technology can withstand. This tool aids in both risk assessment and system design improvement.
Source: Interesting Engineering
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US researchers’ new tool to optimize ocean-based hydrokinetic energy projects