FloWave Launches Global Ocean Energy Prize

The ocean energy pioneers of tomorrow have been offered the chance to compete for a week of free testing – worth £38,000 ($61,000) – at FloWave, the world’s most sophisticated ocean energy simulator.

The FloWave Prize – or ‘FPrize’ – is aimed at young researchers studying for PHDs and beyond, who must put forward their very best new marine energy ideas to be tested at scale in the FloWave tank.

FloWave Chief Executive Stuart Brown launched the global initiative at the annual symposium of INORE (the International Network on Offshore Renewable Energy) taking place this year in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Speaking at the event, which is being hosted by Dalhousie University, Brown said:

“The INORE Symposium attracts the very best young researchers from around the world, and the FloWave Prize offers these ocean energy pioneers of tomorrow an unparalleled opportunity to test out their ideas for free at the world’s most sophisticated ocean energy research facility.

“The competition is not limited to post-graduates or INORE members, and we expect the winner and FloWave to disseminate widely any learning gained through the award,” Brown concluded.

The FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility, located at Edinburgh University’s King’s Buildings campus, is a 25 metre circular pool that can recreate complex waves and fast currents for project sites around the UK, North America and beyond. It is the first and only test facility of its kind in the world.

At a nominal one-twentieth scale FloWave can create scale waves equivalent to more than 14 metres, currents faster than 14 knots (faster than the Bay of Fundy), and has a huge test area equivalent to more than 2 km2 of ocean – perfect for testing the effects of multiple devices together and in realistic project layouts.