Sandia Labs concludes WEC testing

Sandia National Laboratories has completed the testing of its advanced wave energy converter (WEC) system for the US Department of Energy (DOE) Wind and Water Power Technology Office.

In partnership with the US Navy, Sandia conducted the tests at the maneuvering and sea-keeping (MASK) basin at the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Carderock Division (NSWCCD) in Bethesda, Maryland.

The WEC tested, at 1:17 scale, is among the largest scale models ever tested in a wave tank, Sandia Labs informed.

The test program focused on model validation and system identification, producing high-quality data for control design of WECs.

While the Carderock facility typically tests the effects of wave motion on Navy vessels, WEC tests provided an opportunity for Sandia, DoE, and the US Department of Defense to collaborate on advanced wave energy testing.