go to top scroll for more

Projects


Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/X03903X/1
Title CoTide - Co-design to deliver Scalable Tidal Stream Energy
Status Started
Energy Categories Renewable Energy Sources(Ocean Energy) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 50%;
Applied Research and Development 50%;
Science and Technology Fields ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 80%;
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences) 20%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Dr RHJ Willden
No email address given
Engineering Science
University of Oxford
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 July 2023
End Date 30 June 2028
Duration 60 months
Total Grant Value £7,363,043
Industrial Sectors Energy
Region South East
Programme Energy and Decarbonisation
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr RHJ Willden , Engineering Science, University of Oxford (99.987%)
  Other Investigator Dr CR Vogel , Engineering Science, University of Oxford (0.001%)
Dr ASM Smyth , Engineering Science, University of Oxford (0.001%)
Professor P Goulart , Engineering Science, University of Oxford (0.001%)
Dr T Adcock , Engineering Science, University of Oxford (0.001%)
Professor C O'Bradaigh , Sch of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh (0.001%)
Dr D Roy , Sch of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh (0.001%)
Dr A Angeloudis , Sch of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh (0.001%)
Professor N N Fernando , Sch of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh (0.001%)
Dr ED McCarthy , Sch of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh (0.001%)
Dr BG Sellar , Sch of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh (0.001%)
Professor S Oterkus , Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde (0.001%)
Professor FP Brennan , School of Engineering, Cranfield University (0.001%)
Dr A Mehmanparast , School of Water, Energy and Environmen, Cranfield University (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , EDF Energy (0.000%)
Project Contact , National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), USA (0.000%)
Project Contact , Health and Safety Executive (0.000%)
Project Contact , European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) (0.000%)
Project Contact , Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (0.000%)
Project Contact , MeyGen Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , Nova Innovation Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , Sustainable Marine Energy (0.000%)
Project Contact , The Crown Estate (0.000%)
Project Contact , Orbital Marine Power (0.000%)
Project Contact , Bureau Veritas (0.000%)
Project Contact , Det Norske Veritas DNV GL UK Limited (0.000%)
Project Contact , HydroWing (0.000%)
Project Contact , Andritz Hydro Hammerfest (UK) Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , Arkema International (0.000%)
Project Contact , EirGrid (0.000%)
Project Contact , Intertek Liphook (0.000%)
Project Contact , Johns Manville (0.000%)
Project Contact , Magallanes Renovables (0.000%)
Project Contact , Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) (0.000%)
Project Contact , QED Naval Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , Sabella S.A (0.000%)
Project Contact , Supergen ORE hub (0.000%)
Project Contact , UK Marine Energy Council (0.000%)
Project Contact , ThakeConsult (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract The development of tidal stream energy presents a significant opportunity for the UK with a power generation potential in excess of 6GW nationally, and greater than 150GW globally. Delivering on net-zero and climate change objectives will require development and exploitation of all renewable energy resources to provide a robust and secure energy supply. The predictability of the tidal resource is a key benefit that can substantially contribute to resilient energy networks and complement less predictable renewable energy sources, e.g. wind, wave and solar. The UK currently leads tidal stream technology and science development, and there is significant opportunity to ensure global leadership of this exciting emerging sustainable energy sector.To date, the largest tidal device installed is 2MW and the largest array of devices is 6MW in Orkney and Pentland Firth respectively. Device technologies, marine infrastructure, deployment, and operational strategies have all been refined through industrial research, design and deployment at testing sites, assisted by university partnerships. The challenge now faced by the industry is to understand how to deliver tidal stream energy at a scale that will make a meaningful energy contribution. The solution hinges on the ability to deliver reliable, sustainable, scalable and affordable engineering solutions. The engineering challenge is complex and multi-faceted, and the importance of and sensitivity to design drivers are not always well understood.CoTide's research vision is to develop and demonstrate holistic integrated tools and design processes for tidal stream energy that will significantly reduce costs by removing unnecessary redundancy and improving confidence in engineering solutions, providing the transformative engineering processes and designs that will enable tidal energy to make a significant contribution to achieving climate change objectives by 2030-40.CoTide brings together three major university multi-disciplinary teams, each with deep world-leading expertise across the major engineering disciplines essential for the design of tidal stream devices. These include device hydrodynamics, composites and rotor materials, structures and reliability, metocean resource and environmental modelling, system control and optimisation. The constituent engineering design capabilities will be integrated towards addressing the big questions facing tidal stream energy developers through a unified control co-design process. Through this holistic approach, CoTide will not only develop the framework to assess the impact of design drivers and design decisions but will contribute fundamental understanding of unsteady rotor loads and means to control and resist these, how to use contemporary and emerging manufacturing methods to benefit cost and through-life reliability in addition to maximising the potential of digitalisation for optimal performance.With input from its Independent Advisory Board, the Programme resources will be periodically reviewed, adapted and refocused to concentrate on the research challenges that emerge from our research, the tidal energy sector and policy space, and that offer the best opportunities to support industry cost reduction pathways. As CoTide evolves, in addition to its core skills, the partners have a significant breadth of additional expertise to draw upon, with world leading capabilities in complementary areas within offshore renewable energy.CoTide is an ambitious but realistic programme that has the scale, academic gravitas, and resource to achieve innovation through addressing transformative design questions. Through its co-design framework, considering the full scope of interconnected engineering challenges and environmental factors, it will deliver the understanding, tools and data to support the progressive and step change reductions in cost and uncertainty needed to deliver scalable, sustainable and affordable tidal stream energy.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 05/04/23