Scots launch new competition to cut costs of wave energy technology

Wave Energy Scotland (WES) has launched a Direct Generation Concept Design Competition, inviting wave energy specialists, concept designers and solution architects to apply.

Direct generation is the application of novel electrostatic generation technologies, which use the flexible properties of elastomers and polymers to drive variable capacitance, a characteristic that can directly transform movement (stretching, twisting, bending) of a material, into electrical energy.

This results in promising benefits when applied in wave energy such us enabling new class of flexible architectures, without reliance on high-cost steel structures; simplifying power conversation process relative to conventional wave energy architectures, and being adaptable, tuneable and survivable in varying wave energy resources.

As WES is looking for continuous cost reduction opportunities to follow in the footsteps of the current cohort of wave energy technologies on their path towards commercial projects, it has launched a Direct Generation Concept Design Competition.

The competition is open to all, including individual companies, but applying as part of a group or consortium will strengthen the application. Assembling a project team would include capability in areas such as wave energy, flexible materials, flexible electronics, manufacturing processes, soft robotics and actuation systems, WES noted.

The competition opens on July 24, 2023, and pre-proposals must be sent to WES by August 18, 2023.

WES will then invite up to 15 teams to go forward to full proposal submission. The full submission process will be open from August 28 to September 22, 2023

According to WES, it will select up to five projects each to a value of up to £50,000 (€58,600) to be administered as a grant payment at up to 100% of eligible costs.

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