PerAWaT

• Software developed to reduce the uncertainty of calculations of energy yields from large scale wave and tidal arrays
• Information generated to reduce commercial risk
• Commercial tools developed to help with single and array models

The Performance Assessment of Wave and Tidal Array Systems (PerAWaT) project, launched in October 2009 with £8m of ETI investment. The project produced validated software tools capable of significantly reducing the levels of uncertainty associated with predicting the energy yield of major wave and tidal stream energy arrays.

Numerical models of devices, the interactions between devices in arrays and the interactions between arrays at the coastal scale were developed during the project. These models have been validated using extensive scale model tank testing and full scale data from in-service devices where appropriate.

The project provided an assessment of the likely energy yield from large scale wave and tidal arrays, with known levels of uncertainty. This information reduced the commercial risk faced by marine array developers, utilities and investors. This helped to attract project investment and helped to facilitate large scale deployment of marine energy arrays.

Project partner DNV GL produced a commercial software tool called WaveDyn for the design of wave energy converters using outputs from this project. The software tool WaveDyn was launched in October 2012. For more information on WaveDyn visit the DNV GL website or view this brochure.

In 2014 DNV GL produced two further software models- TidalFarmer and WaveFarmer:

• TidalFarmer used a three-dimensional representation of the resource to accurately predict the performance of a tidal stream farm. The calculation engine included corrections for local blockage effects due to device arrangement, the modelling of interactions between multiple devices and the increase in turbulence intensity downstream.
• WaveFarmer was linked to three separate calculation engines, enabling it to determine hydrodynamic interaction effects for farms ranging from a handful of devices to utility-scale projects. An advanced Genetic Algorithm found the best farm layout for a particular location. The tool then let the user explore energy yield, power absorption, data tables, graphs and maps to gain considerable insight into their future marine energy project.

For more information please click here.

Key findings and deliverable reports from this project were shared with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult the technology innovation and research centre for offshore wind, wave and tidal energy to inform their ongoing work in the areas of tidal and wave energy.