Review of 5kW wave energy LOPF buoy design study and test

The purpose of this project was to document the mechanical power production against a target power curve of a 5kW grid connected wave energy buoy in Nissum Bredning at Helligsø. This test site is typically used for open sea testing of scale 1:10 devices in irregular waves. In order to better adapt to the moderate wave height, the buoy was down sized by a factor of 3 and a new lower target power curve for the buoy was agreed to. Downsizing the project also had the advantage that it is more cost effective and fast to experiment with small wave energy devices than with big devices, at an early development stage, in line with the TRL and four phases development (proof of concept, design and feasibility study, field trials and half or full‐scale trials) promoted by AAU and supported by the marine renewable energy sector. To complement this, the IEC 114 standards define 3 stages of testing (1=small scale and no scaled version of PTO, 2=PTO represents a realistic full‐scale PTO with adjustable control strategies, 3=realistic PTO function and full‐scale machine with all electrical component working as they should).

With this project LOPF classifies somewhere in stage 1‐2 of the IEC 114 and stage 2‐3 of the AAU four stages of development.