Ocean Energy Era-Net Launches Call for Transnational Research and Demonstration Projects
The OCEANERA-NET Cofund has launched its second Joint Call for Transnational research and demonstration projects.
The aim of the Call is to support transnational, collaborative projects to develop, demonstrate and validate innovative technologies for ocean energy, which contribute to improved performance, reliability and survivability and reduction in the levelised cost of energy (LCOE). The technologies eligible for support under this call are Wave Energy, Tidal and Ocean Currents, Tidal Range, Salinity Gradient and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC).
A total indicative funding pot of €6.82 million is available for the Call. Projects must involve at least two eligible, independent partners from two different participating countries and should be industry-led. Funding is available from the following countries/regions:
Flanders, Belgium
Ireland
Pays de la Loire, France
Portugal
Scotland, UK
Spain
Sweden
The focus of the Call is on enabling industry to push technologies from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 to 6 through to TRL 4 to 8, facilitating improvements in technology performance, reliability and cost reduction.
The Call topics to be addressed are as follows:
1. Ocean Energy Devices: Development, demonstration and validation of novel or improved energy conversion device concepts, with a focus on generating learning necessary for commercialisation.
2. Components and Subsystems: Development, demonstration and validation of components and subsystems, including but not limited to power take-off, monitoring and control systems, foundations, moorings, and platforms, with a focus on reducing failures by testing in ocean conditions and design of systems that reduce uncertainty and risk and allow overall lower costs of installation and recovery of devices.
3. Grid Connection and Power Systems: Development, demonstration and validation of electrical architecture and components, power systems, grid connection and grid balancing models, to facilitate the connection of multiple devices, optimised array electrical topology and integration of ocean energy with energy systems.
4. Materials and Structures: Design, test and validation of new or improved materials and/or structures to enable the cost-effective development of ocean energy devices, including but not limited to novel materials or novel application of materials from other industrial sectors, anti-biofouling coatings, materials or techniques and improved manufacturing processes to produce materials with better properties for ocean energy applications.
5. Installation, Operations and Maintenance: Development and testing of technology, equipment and methods for installation, operations and maintenance of ocean energy systems and arrays, to reduce costs and maximise the safety and availably of ocean energy deployments.
6. Resource and Impact Assessment: Development and validation of tools for determining resource and environmental conditions and their impact on the reliability, survivability and performance of ocean energy devices, including effects of marine growth and corrosion, as well as the impact of ocean energy devices on the environment.
The deadline for submission of pre-proposals is 1 March 2019.
Full proposals will be invited by the deadline of 5 April 2019. Notification to applicants will be in October 2019, with projects starting in November 2019.
More information about this research funding opportunity and the application process is available on the RESEARCHconnect funding information platform. RESEARCHconnect provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on research funding news and policy. To find out more about how RESEARCHconnect can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.