Renewable Energy by Sharing Maritime Knowledge
For more than 75 years, the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) has been contributing to the development of safe and economic ships and offshore structures as independent advisor. This is done through model tests, simulations, desk studies, full-scale measurements, safety studies and training. With the resulting knowledge of the ocean environment and the hydrodynamics of ships and offshore structures, MARIN sees it as its responsibility to contribute to the development of renewable energy offshore from waves, tides and wind.
For this reason, MARIN has recently started a special Renewable ENergy Team (RENT). RENT is a MARIN-wide team of specialists covering all aspects of offshore renewable energy systems. MARIN offers dedicated people, dedicated research, dedicated model test facilities, dedicated simulation tools and dedicated offshore measurements to help make your renewable energy concept a success.
For more information please download our RENT brochure, through the link below.
For more than 75 years, the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) has been contributing to the development of safe and economic ships and offshore structures as independent advisor. This is done through model tests, simulations, desk studies, full-scale measurements, safety studies and training. With the resulting knowledge of the ocean environment and the hydrodynamics of ships and offshore structures, MARIN sees it as its responsibility to contribute to the development of renewable energy offshore from waves, tides and wind.
For this reason, MARIN has recently started a special Renewable ENergy Team (RENT). RENT is a MARIN-wide team of specialists covering all aspects of offshore renewable energy systems. MARIN offers dedicated people, dedicated research, dedicated model test facilities, dedicated simulation tools and dedicated offshore measurements to help make your renewable energy concept a success.
For more information please download our RENT brochure, through the link below.
'Inverse' Wave Energy Concept
Wave Energy
The challenge for offshore wave energy concepts is to generate a predictable amount of energy, in a reliable way, at a reasonable cost. These challenges are very similar to those of the offshore industry: safe and economic design, production, transportation, installation, maintenance, repair and removal. MARIN has extensive experience in addressing these issues for the offshore industry and now this knowledge can be applied to wave energy concepts as well.
Normally knowledge is used to reduce motions; ‘inverse engineering’ can be used to increase the motions of wave energy converters to maximise the wave energy conversion into useful electrical energy. As a pilot project, MARIN initiated the development of the ‘green water concept’ for wave energy conversion. The concept is a combination of existing heave or pitching concepts (making use if the relative motions with respect to the seabed) and overtopping concepts (where the overtopping wave flow is collected in a reservoir and used to generate electricity through a turbine).
An important aspect that should not be overlooked, is the correct modelling of the Power Take Off (PTO) system, whether electrical or hydraulic, and its interaction with the wave energy device. Because the moment that energy is converted into electricity in the PTO, the hydrodynamic behaviour of the structure is changing.
The challenge for offshore wave energy concepts is to generate a predictable amount of energy, in a reliable way, at a reasonable cost. These challenges are very similar to those of the offshore industry: safe and economic design, production, transportation, installation, maintenance, repair and removal. MARIN has extensive experience in addressing these issues for the offshore industry and now this knowledge can be applied to wave energy concepts as well.
Normally knowledge is used to reduce motions; ‘inverse engineering’ can be used to increase the motions of wave energy converters to maximise the wave energy conversion into useful electrical energy. As a pilot project, MARIN initiated the development of the ‘green water concept’ for wave energy conversion. The concept is a combination of existing heave or pitching concepts (making use if the relative motions with respect to the seabed) and overtopping concepts (where the overtopping wave flow is collected in a reservoir and used to generate electricity through a turbine).
An important aspect that should not be overlooked, is the correct modelling of the Power Take Off (PTO) system, whether electrical or hydraulic, and its interaction with the wave energy device. Because the moment that energy is converted into electricity in the PTO, the hydrodynamic behaviour of the structure is changing.
Tidal Current Turbine
Tidal Energy
MARIN knowledge in the field of ship propulsion systems can also be used to optimise marine turbines to generate tidal energy. The advantage of tidal energy is that the amount of energy is more predictable than wave energy (but its presence is much more localised).
Over the last 75 years MARIN has developed an extensive palette of computational tools and experimental capabilities that suite the design and evaluation of state-of-the-art propellers. For turbine rotors MARIN has already employed its tools and capabilities with panel and CFD codes for evaluation and design of practical turbine rotors.
MARIN knowledge in the field of ship propulsion systems can also be used to optimise marine turbines to generate tidal energy. The advantage of tidal energy is that the amount of energy is more predictable than wave energy (but its presence is much more localised).
Over the last 75 years MARIN has developed an extensive palette of computational tools and experimental capabilities that suite the design and evaluation of state-of-the-art propellers. For turbine rotors MARIN has already employed its tools and capabilities with panel and CFD codes for evaluation and design of practical turbine rotors.
Floating Wind Turbine Concept (SWAY)
Offshore Wind Energy
Offshore wind energy is much related to normal floating and fixed offshore structures. Installation, removal, maintenance, survivability and vessel traffic safety are topics that link offshore wind energy to MARIN’s broad maritime expertise. MARIN has the capabilities to investigate the wave loads, wind loads, platform motions, mooring response, current loads and Vortex Induced Motions (VIM) of offshore wind turbines.
In addition, MARIN has already been involved in a number of environmental studies for planned offshore wind parks, particularly those examining the impact wind farms have on shipping. For any development of an offshore wind farm an Environmental Impact Analysis is required. This analysis examines the wind park’s impact on fisheries, bird life and on shipping. MARIN performs this type of studies using the safety assessment model SAMSON. This model has been developed and improved during the last 25 years through different studies for the Dutch Ministry of Transport, the European Union and other commercial parties.
Finally, MARIN also contributes to the development of windmill installation vessels. This includes resistance and propulsion of the special hulls, Dynamic Positioning (DP) of the system at the location and the actual installation procedures by simulations and model tests. The installation vessels may either be floating, on DP or at anchor, or jacked up to the required elevation by a hydraulic jacking system.
Offshore wind energy is much related to normal floating and fixed offshore structures. Installation, removal, maintenance, survivability and vessel traffic safety are topics that link offshore wind energy to MARIN’s broad maritime expertise. MARIN has the capabilities to investigate the wave loads, wind loads, platform motions, mooring response, current loads and Vortex Induced Motions (VIM) of offshore wind turbines.
In addition, MARIN has already been involved in a number of environmental studies for planned offshore wind parks, particularly those examining the impact wind farms have on shipping. For any development of an offshore wind farm an Environmental Impact Analysis is required. This analysis examines the wind park’s impact on fisheries, bird life and on shipping. MARIN performs this type of studies using the safety assessment model SAMSON. This model has been developed and improved during the last 25 years through different studies for the Dutch Ministry of Transport, the European Union and other commercial parties.
Finally, MARIN also contributes to the development of windmill installation vessels. This includes resistance and propulsion of the special hulls, Dynamic Positioning (DP) of the system at the location and the actual installation procedures by simulations and model tests. The installation vessels may either be floating, on DP or at anchor, or jacked up to the required elevation by a hydraulic jacking system.
Experience Record
- Various wind farm safety studies
- Model tests for a floating wind turbine concept (SWAY, 2007-2008)
- 'Inverse' wave energy concept model tests (MARIN, 2009)
Contact
If you want to contact one of the MARIN RENT specialists for an independent advice or study on a renewable energy concept, please e-mail RENT@MARIN.nl. Confidentiality is our standard.
If you want to contact one of the MARIN RENT specialists for an independent advice or study on a renewable energy concept, please e-mail RENT@MARIN.nl. Confidentiality is our standard.
Front row, from left to right; Haite van der Schaaf (electronics, modelling of power take offs), Hans Cozijn (mooring), Erik Jan de Ridder (wind and sailing), Pieter Aalbers (full-scale measurements), Rien de Meij (installation). Second row, from left to right; Sebastien Gueydon (time-domain simulations), Guilherme Vaz (CFD), Bas Buchner (offshore and wave energy, RENT team leader), Gert-Jan Zondervan (propulsors and turbines), Tom van Terwisga (propulsors and turbines), Koos Hoefakker (model testing), Christian Schmittner (waves and seakeeping). Not in picture; Yvonne Koldenhof (safety studies).