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Bringing Structure to the Wave Energy Innovation Process with the Development of a Techno-Economic Tool

Author

Listed:
  • Owain Roberts

    (Wave Energy Scotland, An Lochran, 10 Inverness Campus, Inverness IV2 5NA, UK)

  • Jillian Catherine Henderson

    (Wave Energy Scotland, An Lochran, 10 Inverness Campus, Inverness IV2 5NA, UK)

  • Anna Garcia-Teruel

    (School of Engineering, Institute for Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3DW, UK)

  • Donald R. Noble

    (School of Engineering, Institute for Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3DW, UK)

  • Inès Tunga

    (Infrastructure & Engineering, Energy Systems Catapult, Birmingham B4 6BS, UK)

  • Jonathan Hodges

    (Wave Energy Scotland, An Lochran, 10 Inverness Campus, Inverness IV2 5NA, UK)

  • Henry Jeffrey

    (School of Engineering, Institute for Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3DW, UK)

  • Tim Hurst

    (Wave Energy Scotland, An Lochran, 10 Inverness Campus, Inverness IV2 5NA, UK)

Abstract

Current wave energy development initiatives assume that available designs have the potential for success through continuous learning and innovation-based cost reduction. However, this may not be the case, and potential winning technologies may have been overlooked. The scenario creation tool presented in this paper provides a structured method for the earliest stages of design in technology development. The core function of the scenario creation tool is to generate and rank scenarios of potential Wave Energy Converter (WEC) attributes and inform the user on the areas of the parameter space that are most likely to yield commercial success. This techno-economic tool uses a structured innovation approach to identify commercially attractive and technically achievable scenarios, with a scoring system based on their power performance and costs. This is done by leveraging performance and cost data from state-of-the-art wave energy converters and identifying theoretical limits to define thresholds. As a result, a list of scored solutions is obtained depending on resource level, wave energy converter hull shape, size, material, degree of freedom for power extraction, and efficiency. This scenario creation tool can be used to support private and public investors to inform strategy for future funding calls, and technology developers and researchers in identifying new avenues of innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Owain Roberts & Jillian Catherine Henderson & Anna Garcia-Teruel & Donald R. Noble & Inès Tunga & Jonathan Hodges & Henry Jeffrey & Tim Hurst, 2021. "Bringing Structure to the Wave Energy Innovation Process with the Development of a Techno-Economic Tool," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-25, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:24:p:8201-:d:696549
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Farrell, Niall & Donoghue, Cathal O’ & Morrissey, Karyn, 2015. "Quantifying the uncertainty of wave energy conversion device cost for policy appraisal: An Irish case study," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 62-77.
    2. Topper, Mathew B.R. & Nava, Vincenzo & Collin, Adam J. & Bould, David & Ferri, Francesco & Olson, Sterling S. & Dallman, Ann R. & Roberts, Jesse D. & Ruiz-Minguela, Pablo & Jeffrey, Henry F., 2019. "Reducing variability in the cost of energy of ocean energy arrays," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 263-279.
    3. Tooraj Jamasb, 2007. "Technical Change Theory and Learning Curves: Patterns of Progress in Electricity Generation Technologies," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 3), pages 51-72.
    4. Jonathan Kohler, Michael Grubb, David Popp and Ottmar Edenhofer, 2006. "The Transition to Endogenous Technical Change in Climate-Economy Models: A Technical Overview to the Innovation Modeling Comparison Project," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Special I), pages 17-56.
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    1. Inès Tunga & Anna Garcia-Teruel & Donald R. Noble & Jillian Henderson, 2021. "Addressing European Ocean Energy Challenge: The DTOceanPlus Structured Innovation Tool for Concept Creation and Selection," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-23, September.
    2. Garcia-Teruel, Anna & Roberts, Owain & Noble, Donald R. & Henderson, Jillian Catherine & Jeffrey, Henry, 2022. "Design limits for wave energy converters based on the relationship of power and volume obtained through multi-objective optimisation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 492-504.

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