WECANet: The First Open Pan-European Network for Marine Renewable Energy with a Focus on Wave Energy-COST Action CA17105

Abstract

Growing energy demand has increased interest in marine renewable energy resources (i.e., wave energy, which is harvested through wave energy converter (WEC) arrays. However, the wave energy industry is currently at a significant juncture in its development, facing a number of challenges which require that research re-focuses on a holistic techno-economic perspective, where the economics considers the full life cycle costs of the technology. It also requires development of WECs suitable for niche markets, because in Europe there are inequalities regarding wave energy resources, wave energy companies, national programs and investments. As a result, in Europe there are leading and non-leading countries in wave energy technology. The sector also needs to increase confidence of potential investors by reducing (non-)technological risks. This can be achieved through an interdisciplinary approach by involving engineers, economists, environmental scientists, lawyers, regulators and policy experts. Consequently, the wave energy sector needs to receive the necessary attention compared to other more advanced and commercial offshore energy technologies (e.g., offshore wind). The formation of the first open pan-European network with an interdisciplinary approach will contribute to large-scale WEC array deployment by dealing with the current bottlenecks. The WECANet (Wave Energy Converter Array Network) European COST Action, introduced in September 2018 and presented in this paper, aims at a collaborative and inclusive approach, as it provides a strong networking and collaboration platform that also creates the space for dialogue between all stakeholders in wave energy. An important characteristic of the Action is that participation is open to all parties interested and active in the development of wave energy. Previous activities organised by WECANet core group members have resulted in a number of joint European projects and scientific publications. WECANet’s main target is the equal research, training, networking, collaboration and funding opportunities for all researchers and professionals, regardless of age, gender and country in order to obtain understanding of the main challenges governing the development of the wave energy sector.

The role of science, technology and innovation in increasing the share of renewable energy worldwide

“…The reason for that can be that wind energy in terms of its economic efficiency is inferior to classical energy due to the long payback periods. The production of wind farms depends on weather conditions and is therefore variable [22]. Wind power stations cannot guarantee the supply of a clearly defined amount of electricity in a specific period.…”

Influence of Power Take-Off Modelling on the Far-Field Effects of Wave Energy Converter Farms

“…As indicated by Reference [1], the main cause of this lack of TRL is the large number of different WEC technologies under development, which do not seem to reach a convergence state towards one or a few feasible technologies. Yet, if this were to happen, for wave energy to be economically viable, a large number of WECs will have to be deployed in the ocean and arranged in so-called WEC farms [2]. The hydrodynamic interactions between a large number of WECs within the WEC farm has the potential to modify the surrounding wave climate, creating areas of reduced and focused wave energy (areas of reduced and increased wave height) around the WEC farm.…”

Fuzzy Gain Scheduled-Sliding Mode Rotational Speed Control of an Oscillating Water Column

“…The majority of the available industry-scale prototypes in seas possess the simplest control strategies which results in low energy extraction [7]. This signifies that the focal point of research, in following years, have to shift from large-scale wave energy utilization toward the difficulties of developing WECs and customized applications appropriate in favor of niche markets [8]. As stated by the European Marine Energy Centre numerous countries are implicated with projects that focuses on the progress of the WEC industry such as ''UK (26 projects), Norway (14), Denmark (9), Spain (9), Ireland (7), Sweden (5), France (4), Finland-Germany-Portugal (2), Greece (1)'' [9], [10].…”