Concept Design Competition: TTI

Stage 1

September 2024

The Stage 1 project was led by TTI Marine Renewables Ltd (TTI-MR), a company with expertise in designing offshore marine renewable energy systems and flexible structures. They were supported by the University of Manchester (UoM) Electrical Engineering and Materials departments, who brought specialised material development expertise to the project.

During Stage 1, the team engaged in various activities, including defining requirements, analysing prior art, creating and ranking concepts, and studying the governing physics.

A technical risk-based approach was taken to qualify concepts and inform R&D priorities for the future. The team also considered the sustainability of materials and the socio-economic aspects of candidate DEG materials and the system as a whole. The concept identification process involved a formal brainstorming workshop facilitated by TRIZ experts Oxford Creativity Ltd. TRIZ, or "Theory of Inventive Problem Solving," is a methodology that aims to generate innovative solutions by analysing patterns of invention and identifying principles that can be applied to new situations. TRIZ was used in the Stage 1 project to rank concepts before conducting quantitative engineering analyses for short-listed concepts.

With in depth knowledge of the governing physics TTI-MR were able to develop an initial time domain model, which was used to build a power density matrix of the selected concept and calculate energy yield for the chosen wave environment. A key outcome of this process was the selection of a new and innovative wave energy concept with very promising potential. The concept was chosen because it maximises the use of DEG material in the device while minimising the need for relatively expensive rigid structures and mechanical elements. Cost and energy yield analysis demonstrated significant headroom in the levelised cost of energy when compared with published target for wave power. The concept is designed to have good survivability and performance potential under average wave conditions. Additionally, the technology is readily scalable, making it applicable to different markets and sites.

However, as with any new technology, there are technical challenges to overcome, such as the durability and power density of the candidate DEG materials. These challenges are not considered insurmountable and highlight the need for ongoing material research and concept development to realise the commercial potential of the technology.

Stage 2

Round 2 will continue to build upon this concept design activity and begin to deliver the enabling R&D activities in response to the challenges identified in Round 1.

The projects will apply the expertise of their teams to the challenges of elastomer fatigue, flexible electrodes, cell-based generator design and material selection. Over the 9-month duration, the team will build collaborations and seek wider funding, supporting WES to grow a cross-sector community on Direct Generation technologies. These projects align with other WES activities in this area such as the Supergen ORE Impact Hub Flexfund programme.