Project dedicated to novel composite materials for tidal turbine blades backed with €500k

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has allocated just under €500,000 in funding for a project that aims to generate test data on novel composite materials used in tidal turbine blades.

The consortium behind the Detailed Material Performance Characterisation and Data Generation for Tidal Energy (DeepCData) project consists of Galway-based CTL Composites Testing Laboratory, the University of Galway and ORPC Ireland.

The funding was awarded under SEAI’s Research, Development and Demonstration program.

The project aims to generate comprehensive test data on novel composite materials for use in tidal turbine blades. The kick-off meeting was held in March, and the project expects to run for 24 months, until 2026.

The information compiled throughout the work is expected to lead to a number of developments in tidal energy: higher loadings will be uncovered for blades, which will increase energy capture; a deeper insight into material performance towards its end-of-life will feed into an improved design life for turbines; and a test campaign is planned to evaluate the use of more sustainable composite options in tidal technology.

Ultimately, an overall impact of the above benefits is a reduction in the cost of energy for European citizens, CTL said.

Earlier this year, the University of Galway completed testing of a next-generation marine hydrokinetic turbine foil for renewable energy said to have shown potential for a next-generation marine turbine.

The test foil was designed by ORPC and manufactured from a high-performance carbon fiber-reinforced polymer by ÉireComposites.