Technology Readiness Levels
Applied and strategic research
1. Basic principles observed and reported
2. Technology concept and/or application formulated
3. Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept
4. Component and/or partial system validation in a laboratory environment
Technology validation
5. Component and/or partial system validation in a relevant environment
6. System/subsystem model validation in a relevant environment
System validation
7. System prototype demonstration in an operational environment
8. Actual system completed and service qualified through test and demonstration
9. Actual system proven through successful mission operation
DEVELOPMENT STEPS FOR WAVE AND TIDAL ENERGY SYSTEMS
For both technologies the development from conceptual idea to commercial stage is envisaged to grow through five defined stages, each followed by a gate to determine what is next. In the wave energy protocol each stage includes defined Technology Readiness Levels (TRL).
Task report 02-2.1
Task report 02-2.2
Stage 1
TRL 1-3
Concept validation. Prove the basic concept from wave flume tests in small scale Tidal-current energy conversion concept formulated (Scope of Protocol begins here) Stage 1
Stage 2
TRL 4
Design validation. Subsystem testing at intermediate scale, Flume tests scale 1:10, Survivability; Computational Fluid Dynamics; Finite Element Analysis Dynamic Analysis; Engineering Design (Prototype); feasibility and costing Intermediate scale subsystem testing, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Finite Element Analysis, Dynamic Analysis Stage 2
Stage 3
TRL 5-6Testing operational scaled models at sea + subsystem testing at large scale Subsystem testing at large scale Stage 3
Stage 4
TRL 7-8
Full-scale prototype tested at sea Full-scale prototype tested at sea Stage 4
Stage 5
TRL 9Economic validation; several units of pre-commercial machines tested at sea for an extended period of time. Commercial demonstrator tested at sea for an extended period. Stage 5
Source: OES-IA Document nº T02-0.0
