ORPC Ireland gets Horizon 2020 boost

 
Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) Ireland has been granted funding through the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme to advance its hydrokinetic technology.

The wholly-owned Irish subsidiary of the US-based hydrokinetic developer ORPC was granted funding for a project to advance the performance and reliability of ocean energy technology electrical systems by developing a more robust power transfer system from prime mover to electric grid.

Through the MaREI Centre in the Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork (UCC), lab testing will be conducted at the Lir National Ocean Test Facility in Ringaskiddy, Cork Harbour, Ireland, to validate system improvements to a full-scale ORPC hydrokinetic turbine and the associated economics, ORPC’s press release reads.

Chris Sauer, ORPC President and CEO, said: “The whole ocean energy industry deeply appreciates Horizon 2020’s critical support and ORPC, in particular, is thrilled to receive such a strong endorsement of our technology. We look forward to working with our dedicated partners in the EU to significantly advance ocean energy technologies and help secure Europe’s global competitiveness.”

Philip Cheasty, Ireland’s National Contact Point for clean energy programs for Horizon 2020, added: “This project will add to the positive success Ireland has achieved to date in Horizon 2020 and also contributes to marine renewable energy technology development which is one of Ireland’s 14 priority focus areas.”

In addition to UCC, partners for the project include Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft from Germany, Letterkenny Institute of Technology from Ireland, and SKF UK.