Reliability testing (MONITOR project)
MONITOR project
The MONITOR project is investigating the reliability of tidal energy converters (TECs), using a range of methods and will develop tools to help TEC developers improve device reliability.
The MONITOR project partners will identify critical parameters for blades and support structures and design a monitoring system suitable for Magallanes and Sabella (the two tidal energy developers being used as test subjects in the investigation). The monitoring system will aim to lower engineering safety factors, thus lowering cost while also improving reliability.
A generalised monitoring system will then be developed that can be applied to any TEC design, to de-risk TEC development, improve reliability and increase capacity factor (i.e. power generated as a proportion of theoretical capacity) and lower capital expenditure (CAPEX) and OPEX. This will foster growth of the tidal energy sector.
TEC reliability is a crucial challenge for the tidal energy sector and overcoming it will demonstrate TEC feasibility to investors and public bodies.
Funding
The MONITOR project has received funding from the European Union’s Interreg Atlantic Area programme.
Objectives
The aim of the MONITOR project is to carry out investigations into tidal energy converter (TEC) reliability, using a range of methods to provide better quantification of technical risk to TEC developers and more robust TEC designs.
The key objectives are:
- Reliability: Providing tools and shared learning to developers to improve and optimise reliability of TEC;
- Feasibility: Reduce risk in TEC, thus demonstrating feasibility to investors and public bodies;
- Development: Minimise the time to market in the development phase;
- Cost: Lower the cost TEC development;
- Performance: Contribute to low OPEX and increased performance in the production phase;
- Growth: Develop the tidal energy industry which will help foster growth of renewable energy sector.
Outcomes
Findings from the project were presented in an end of project workshop, alongside RealTide project partners.
News
- Sept 2021: End of project findings
- May 2018: MONITOR to improve tidal energy blade reliability
