Chilean researchers test wave energy converter at hydrodynamic canal

Chilean researchers have completed hydrodynamic tests on a wave energy converter (WEC) as part of an academic collaboration between the University of Bío-Bío (UBB), the Austral University of Chile (UACH), the University of Edinburgh, and RWTH Aachen University.

According to the representative from the research team, the tests were carried out at the Canal de Ensayos Hidrodinámicos UACh, aiming to evaluate the WEC’s response under controlled conditions. 

The work is said to originate from the GROW-E team (Group of Renewable Ocean and Wave Energy) at UBB’s Mechanical Engineering Department, focusing on control systems, mechanical systems, and manufacturing methods for WECs.

“This work originates from the efforts of the GROW-E team (Group of Renewable Ocean and Wave Energy) within the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Universidad del Bío-Bío in Chile. Our team focuses on control systems, mechanical systems, and manufacturing methods for wave energy converters,” said Danilo Pastrana Mendoza from the University of Bío-Bío.

“This has been an enriching experience for the development of wave energy technology in Chile, strengthening research and fostering national and international cooperation in this field.“

The tests were led by Professor Fabian Gonzalo Pierart Vasquez and included contributions from Professor Claudio Villegas and Cristian Cifuentes, as well as Master’s students Danilo Pastrana Mendoza, Braulio Neira Verdugo, and Vicente Maximiliano Barrientos Mardones.

According to the team, this initiative builds on previous research aimed at developing a full-scale prototype for deployment in Lebu, Chile. 

The researchers emphasize that the work is conducted solely for academic purposes and is not affiliated with or supported by any companies.

The region’s unique characteristics make it especially suitable for the development of wind energy, but also for marine energy projects along its shores, according to the UBB.