Aqua Power

It was time to turn once more to the field of tidal energy with our client Aqua Power who wished to generate reliable wave movement data for the development of tidal energy devices.

The challenge was to create a life-like simulation in order to test both software and hardware development prior to, and without deep sea submergence.

A rig was developed to simulate wave profiles using servos.  This development advanced knowledge in the field of accurate wave simulation.  One particular feature was the ability to assess the impact of varying depths of ocean on the proposed tidal energy devices.

Whilst turning our hand to assisting new R&D, we are keen to understand how damaging living creatures is not going to be an outcome of underwater endeavours. This is because injuries and deaths of birds caused by wind turbines is under-reported and there is no systematic research to collate stats, so what chance do we have of understanding how installations impact life below the waves?