PhD Project: Technical and non-technical issues for the commercialization of a wave energy converter of the overtopping type – Wave Dragon

The wave energy potential around the globe is very large and, if properly harnessed, this renewable energy source can become a large-scale contributor to the European electricity mix. Some wave energy technologies have gone through intensive sea trials to prove survivability in the harsh sea environment and continuous power production. However, there are still some important issues that both the wave energy sector and its technologies have to overcome to reach the commercial stage. These issues cover both non-technological and technical challenges that can directly or indirectly affect a technology development.



In order to have a good overview of the sector’s situation and understand some of the problems technologies are facing, this PhD project will look at both areas. On one hand, some of the non-technological issues are studied: i) the regulatory system and financial incentives of a country with emerging wave energy interest, ii) the state of the art of offshore grid interconnection plans to accommodate the electricity generated offshore and iii) strategies to address public opinion towards public acceptability of wave energy projects. On the other hand, integration into the grid of the electricity generated by wave energy converters as well as issues behind the energy conversion process within the device are analyzed: i) predictability and variability of the power output of three different wave energy converters, ii) short-term power-output smoothing strategies to fulfil network requirements for grid integration, iii) power performance evaluation of wave energy converters, and iv) hydrodynamic lab testing of an energy conversion layout.



Through this study, the student intends to i) improve her overall understanding of the challenges the wave energy sector is facing to become a significant part of the electricity mix, ii) address some of the problems in the development of wave energy technologies to reach the commercial stage, iii) propose solutions to the identified hurdles and iv) participate within the development of existing wave energy devices, particularly Wave Dragon. Moreover, the PhD project provides the PhD student the opportunity of acquiring new expertise in the social sciences and economic field, improving her expertise in the electrical engineering field within power electronics and control, and collaborating with other researchers.



Last but not least, the PhD project is part of the Marie Curie Wavetrain2 project, funded under the EU 7th Framework Programme People. The PhD student beneficiates of this opportunity by working in close collaboration along with an offshore energy consultant, a university research group on wave energy, a wave energy device developer and a Transmission System Operator