WES is supporting the Flexible Funding programme delivered under the Supergen ORE Impact Hub both financially and with proposal of specific topics of fundamental and enabling research for which WES has identified there is a sector need.
The Supergen ORE Impact Hub invites proposals from eligible UK researchers, i.e. applicants based in UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Research Council Institutes and Centres, and Independent Research Organisations (IROs) approved by UKRI. Potential applicants should contact the Supergen ORE Impact Hub in advance of the submission deadline if they have any queries concerning their eligibility.
The scope of the 2023 EPSRC/WES Flexible Funding call is specific to WES R&D priorities related to Next Generation Wave Energy. The scope is described below:
- Concept design and development of cell-based or segmented direct generation (Dielectric Elastomer Generator, DEG, or Dielectric Fluid Generator, DFG) modules that could form the building block of a new class of distributed, flexible wave energy converter
- Design/selection/characterisation of metamaterial, cell and module concepts which deliver the functional characteristics required by potential future direct, distributed, flexible wave energy converter concepts (e.g., shape or volume changing with variable capacitance and conversion of mechanical power to electricity)
- Manufacture and functional demonstration of multi-cell direct generation solution in laboratory conditions, at functionally representative scale, while also demonstrating the approach to mass-multiplication of cells
- Definition and prioritisation of requirements for further enabling R&D and pathways for future development, manufacture and characterisation of high-performance materials and metamaterials
- Throughout delivery of the above scope, decision-making should follow adopt the following the general principles:
- Scalability by multiplication of cells rather than scale-up of single cells
- Compatibility with repeatable, low cost, mass production processes
- Environmental acceptability and compatibility with a circular economy (e.g. biodegradability or recyclability)
- Demonstration of a clear pathway to commercial, industrial exploitation in wave energy applications
- Maximum compatibility of resulting products and processes with other sectors and applications beyond wave energy generation e.g. sectors such as automotive, aerospace, robotics and applications such as sensing and actuation. Can there be similarity or interchangeability in material, manufacturing process, metamaterial architecture, module architecture to exploit the product widely?
- Projects shall engage with other research activities such as, but not limited to, successful projects in the WES Direct Generation Concept Design Competition, to share and inform R&D requirements.