Experts load technical specification for marine energy converters

 
Marine renewables team within the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has released the technical specification for loads measurements in full-scale marine energy converters.

The IEC project team, PT 62600-3, published the first committee draft for the measurement of mechanical loads on full scale marine energy converters, like wave, tidal or river energy devices.

The international technical specification is relevant for technology developers, test laboratories – including open water test sites – and certification bodies, according to the team.

The publication describes the measurements to be performed for all kinds of marine energy converter types. According to the developers, the draft – developed by the IEC Technical Committee 114 which is in charge of marine energy – includes a detailed description on how and where to measure loads especially for bladed turbines.

Accurate and reliable loads data in combination with measured energy flux – wave, tidal or other – can be used to validate load simulation models, which in turn can be used to optimize blade design, the expert team said.

The technical specification, released for commenting until March 8, 2019 – also provides instructions for full-scale laboratory rotor blade testing.

The development of this technical specification has been led by Dutch Marine Energy Centre (DMEC), and supported by the MET-CERTIFIED project.

Funded by the European Interreg 2 Seas program and co-financed by the European Fund for Regional Development (ERFD), the MET-CERTIFIED project aims to increase the adoption of insurable and therefore bankable marine energy projects through the development of internationally recognized standards and certification schemes for the sector.

The project is also financially supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the Netherlands, Province of South-Holland and North-Holland and the Belgian Province of West Flanders.