OPERA examines IEC TS practical application

OPERA project has produced a document that represents the first stage in the examination of the practical application of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Technical Specifications (TS) for the wave energy sector.

OPERA work package titled ‘Applicability and Extension of IEC Technical Specifications using Open Sea Data’ is dedicated to providing the first documented application of the ongoing normative process for the wave energy sector – the IEC TS for marine energy.

Its aim is to reduce the uncertainties in their application and provide recommendations to the relevant marine technical committee of the IEC-TC114 that will accelerate the establishment of standards based on these technical specifications.

The document summarized the necessary methodologies and requirements from each of the TS, defined the practical implementation of the methodology for a real sea deployment, and highlighted any technical issues.

The following IEC TS are studied within OPERA:

• 62600-10 Part 10: Assessment of mooring system for marine energy converters
• 62600-30 Ed. 1.0 Part 30: Electrical power quality requirements for wave, tidal and other water current energy converters
• 62600-100 Ed. 1.0 Part 100: Electricity producing wave energy converters – Power performance assessment
• 62600-101 Ed. 1.0 Part 101: Wave energy resource assessment and characterization
• 62600-102 Ed. 1.0 Part 102: Wave energy converter power performance assessment at a second location using measured assessment data

More specifically, the document examines the basic methodological requirements, including data and models requirements; practical implementation of methodology in a real sea deployment; data processing and reporting requirements; and any technical issues or limitations of the TS, if applicable.

The authors of the document have noted that the emphasis is on the practical application of the TS, and not the performance of the wave energy device itself.

Project OPERA (Open Sea Wave Operating Experience to Reduce Energy Cost) is an EU-funded research project that aims to develop a technology that would halve the cost of operating wave energy devices at sea, accelerate the development of international standards and reduce uncertainties and technological risks.