Weekly Intelligence Brief

South West marine energy research efforts get a boost

11 November 2009

Marine energy research efforts at The South West England have received a further boost with a £1.2 million investment in a new wave tank testing facility.

The wave tanks are being funded by the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency) as part of the Agency’s three-year £7.3 million investment in the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE), and will be located at the University of Plymouth. PRIMaRE is a £12.6 million project set up two years ago by the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, with funding from the South West RDA.

The main wave tank at the facility will measure 35 metres by 15 metres and be two metres deep. It is expected to be completed in early 2012.

The facility will allow model testing in both multi-directional waves and variable direction currents, and will also be able to model shallow and deep water conditions. It will enable the testing of scale models of wave and tidal energy devices individually and in arrays.

The proposed new wave tank testing facility will not only help in testing the performance of wave and tidal devices, but specialists can also model how these devices might impact coastal conditions.

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PRIMaRE: http://social.tidaltoday.com/search/node/PRIMaRE