VALID will provide an accurate correlation between the conditions at sea and in the laboratory by adapting innovative hybrid testing methodologies from the automotive industry.
The VALID initiative will develop a hybrid testing platform for accelerated testing, combining both physical and virtual environments. It is aimed at reducing product development process costs for harnessing ocean energy; it tackles the challenges of scaling up and minimises uncertainties.
VALID will use and adapt innovative hybrid testing methodologies, which are currently often used in the automotive industry, and apply them to three different case studies specific to the ocean energy sector. This new approach changes the perspective of accelerated testing. Establishing a precise correlation between ocean and laboratory conditions will make it possible to develop common test procedures and promote technological convergence across Europe.
There is not a proper balance as far as current test procedures in the wave energy sector are concerned. Most laboratory tests have only focused on functionality (proof of concept and performance evaluation), without taking into account other key parameters such as reliability and survivability. VALID integrates reliability and survivability testing methods with relevant component failure data (from ongoing and recently completed projects) at the early stages of the design and testing processes.
Failure testing of electric generators
Our experts are at the forefront of pioneering the implementation of this methodology in the failure testing of electrical generators. To this end, we have our own testing infrastructure, both in the laboratory and at sea. We have the practical knowledge of two Basque entities: IDOM’s experience of developing its MARMOK wave energy converter, and the Mutriku wave energy plant operated by BiMEP which has been running non-stop since July 2011.
TECNALIA also coordinates the definition of indicators so that the technologies under development can achieve their final objectives in terms of cost, performance and reliability.
The VALID initiative brings together the knowledge and experience of industry experts (Corpower Ocean AB; Rina Consulting Spa; Idom Consulting, Engineering, Architecture S.A.U; AVL LIST GMBH; Yavin Four Consultants; Wavepiston AS; Aquatera Sustainability Ireland Ltd; and consultant engineer Julia F. Chozas) from some of the leading research companies (Fundación TECNALIA Research & Innovation, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB, Biscay Marine Energy Platform SA), as well as from academic institutions (Aalborg University and Technical University of Delft).
Further information
