US researchers introduce software for enhancing marine hydrokinetic systems

US Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new modeling tool to help boost marine hydrokinetic projects by enhancing the design of ocean current turbines and providing risk assessments needed for permitting and insurance. 

According to the North Carolina State University, the tool aims to improve the resilience of marine hydrokinetic devices, which convert the ocean’s tides, currents, and waves into electricity.

“Marine hydrokinetic technologies hold promise for being a significant contributor to sustainable energy portfolios in the future,” said Anderson de Queiroz, Associate Professor at NC State. “However, the same currents and waves that allow hydrokinetic devices to generate electricity can also damage the devices during extreme weather events, such as hurricanes or tropical storms. For example, waves generated by high winds could potentially tear devices loose from their moorings and anchoring system.”

The tool helps developers conduct risk assessments required for project permitting and insurance, utilizing fragility curve estimates to measure the forces a hydrokinetic device can withstand before failure occurs. 

“Marine hydrokinetic energy projects are expensive to get off the ground,” added Mo Gabr, Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering at NC State. “If a developer is proposing a marine hydrokinetic project, it will need to apply for permits and get insurance – and both of those things will require the developer to do a robust risk assessment. That’s where fragility curve estimates come in.”

The software uses data like ocean currents, wind speeds, and the physical properties of the hydrokinetic devices and mooring systems to determine how they perform under extreme conditions, such as hurricanes. 

This enables developers to simulate various scenarios, adjusting system designs to improve their ability to withstand storms. “For example, you could use this tool to determine whether your device would likely break loose from its anchoring and mooring system during a 100-year storm,” noted De Queiroz.

The software aims to assist developers in fine-tuning the designs of hydrokinetic devices and mooring systems to better cope with extreme weather, ultimately reducing the risks tied to marine energy projects. 

“We hope our model will be useful for advancing successful marine hydrokinetic energy projects and technologies that will make meaningful contributions to renewable energy,” De Queiroz concluded.

The paper, “Bayesian Modeling and Mechanical Simulations for Fragility Curve Estimation of The Mooring System of Marine Hydrokinetic Devices,” was published in September. The project was funded by the North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program.

In May, North Carolina State University secured funding through the U.S. Testing Expertise and Access to Marine Energy Research (TEAMER) program‘s twelfth Request For Technical Support (RFTS), receiving a portion of the over $1.1 million allocated across eleven projects. This funding will support NC State’s research on dynamic power response testing for tethered coaxial hydrokinetic turbines (TCTs).