research needs of ocean energy industry economics of ocean and marine renewable energy conference...

Research Needs of Ocean Energy Industry

Economics of Ocean and Marine Renewable Energy Conference

UCC April 2012

Background to Study

• Survey of Third Level, Agency and Industry undertaken in late 2011

• Support from SEAI-OEDU• Follows on from Education Needs study in

2010- common Masters in Ocean Energy under discussion with 6 institutions

• R and D study will be out soon• Will include numbers e.g. on scale of activity

1.Who Undertakes R&D?

The Main Players

Third Level

• Sligo IT: Mooring and anchoring systems; one of only two drum centrifuges in Europe. C€400k capex in total. ‘All graduates will emigrate, great opportunities internationally’

• NUIG: Focus on modelling, structures, ICT. Involved also in marine economics

• Note: The OE teaching and R&D effort can be spread among a number of departments, particularly in the larger institutions. Focus here is on the 'lead' department in each institution

Third Level-2

• UCC: HMRC is central (CMRC and SERG increasingly allied with HMRC; part of IMERC). National test tanks, R&D in many areas of OE, new (€16m)'Beaufort Laboratory' pending. €2.5m capinv in past 2 years.

• NUIM: Control systems, hydro dynamic fluid modelling, wave forecasting etc. About €200k capinv

Third Level-3

• UCD: Focused in two teams in Earth Sciences and Mathematics

• UL: Specialists in UAV's, 'smart ocean', ocean engineering

Agencies

• IDA and EI: Development of industrial base. IDA actively seeking FDI in marine renewables; EI significant financial support to OE companies.

• OEDU: Critical source of funding and policy support for company R&D.

• SFI: Two applications from Marine Energy under Strategic Research Cluster call.

Agencies- 2

• Forfas: Sets the policy. Research Priorities exercise completed and Marine Energy is among chosen areas

• Marine Institute: Provides infrastructure and services e.g. data collection, research funding and support for OEDU

Industry

• Three key players: Open Hydro; Ocean Energy and Wavebob...... with Aquamarine Power active with UCD

• A number of others involved in different ways: Seapower is probably most important of the emerging companies; ESBI leading WestWave; Bord Gais behind various initiatives; etc

2. Views on Agencies, Third Level Colleges and Facilities

Third Level

• Positive views on agencies generally– ‘EI FP7 office very good’– Although ‘EI projects must be very close to

market’– ‘ SFI very good, strategic thinkers’– ‘IRCSET PhDs programme inflexible’– ‘SEAI very helpful but claims procedures slow’– ‘We envy no-one, nobody has the system of

supports that we have’

Third Level-2

– ‘SFI too focused on basic research, marine renewables is about applied engineering and science’

– ‘..requirement to handover/share IP with industry is hindering industrial policy’

• Believe that Irish OE research has good reputation internationally

• And that research capability in Ireland is complementary

Agencies

• Development agencies clear on several issues:– ‘Need an offshore wind test site on the Irish Sea’– ‘Third Level retention of IP is a barrier’– ‘ Research lacks focus’– ‘Real issues for the sector are at policy level e.g. REFIT’– ‘Need co-ordinating mechanism to avoid duplication in

R&D’• Support for infrastructure development e.g. AMETS, IMERC

and ‘Smart Ocean’

Industry

• Generally positive re Agencies, Third Level• ‘Research too fragmented’• Supportive of infrastructure development-

Smart Bay, IMERC and AMETS• ‘Scottish support for this industry is tops

across all areas of activity’• ‘EI schemes should allow use of consultants

with deep practical experience’

Industry-2

• ‘OEDU schemes under-resourced, claims process challenging’

• ‘Need coordination of research’• ‘Lots of scope for intellectually-intensive companies

to emerge on back of R&D; MCS is good exemplar’• ‘Level of awareness of Third Level research is low’• ‘DCENR needs to have and communicate a clear

vision for marine renewables generally’• ‘Research capability is world leading’

3. Boundaries and Future Agenda

Common Threads

• Practical and applied approach• Fundamental science and engineering issues

being cracked?• (Perhaps surprisingly) lot of interest in more

work on moorings, data collection and economics

• Supply chain development • Facilities

Third Level

• Marine Science– ‘need to understand the resource more’– ‘ too much turns on modelling’– ‘resource not properly quantified’– ‘Data collection is an issue’– ‘Ecological impact of large arrays’

• Engineering– ‘engineering cost out to improve IRR’– ‘Bio fouling, corrosion’

Third Level-2

– ‘Viability of different devices’– ‘Robustness of devices- cannot access devices in

Orkneys for 6 months of the year due weather’– ‘Doubts about devices where electricity developed

offshore’– ‘Sediment properties to allow cable burial-

research?’– ‘Engineering of multi device farms with substantial

underwater components, etc’

Third Level- 3

– ‘everything to do with getting power ashore’– ‘Smart devices’– ‘Electrical system design to allow integration of large arrays’– ‘Priority to research into robotics and smart ocean engineering infrastructure’

• Seabed– ‘Don’t know enough about impact on seabed and from mud line down of

devices’– ‘ Moorings are an issue as are umbilical's’

• Other Concerns– Supply chain e.g. planning for 100MW array, shipping and logistics– Floating wind platforms– Lack of interest in environmental issues– Potential bio-diversity ‘hotspots’ around arrays

Agencies

• Resource– ‘ More detail on resource needed’– ‘Too much modelling- need data’

• Moorings• ICT, material sciences• ‘No further fundamental research needed’• ‘Challenges still in grid modelling, material

science, grid integration, control systems’

Agencies-2

• ‘Resource modelling, moorings, structural design, environmental modelling, economics’

• ‘Soft’ issues– Economics– Environmental studies

• Infrastructure- finish Belmullet, build test site (particularly for offshore wind) off east coast, IMERC

• ‘Need long term funding –a la the UK-to support development of the sector’

• ‘Smart Ocean, resource optimisation, power conversion’• ‘ Develop Competence Centres?’

Industry

• Resource assessment, data standards• Developing supply chain• Economics/economic modelling/ market

arrangements• Deployment Methods• Manufacturability of devices• Grid/ICT/O&M• Mooring systems and issues• Finish Belmullet, IMERC, demonstration devices

Industry-2

• ‘Change State funding so can go to best centres even if abroad’• ‘Need one service provider for structural analysis, physical

modelling, tank testing, numerical modelling and hydrodynamics’

• ‘Structural expertise is in consultants, not universities’• ‘New IMERC tank facilities badly needed’• ‘Not enough thinking and research re full-scale devices’• ‘EI to sponsor technical mentoring service?’• ‘ Modest scale tidal test site on East coast’• ‘ Galway site v cost effective but where do they want to go with

it?’

The Resultant Agenda

• Research Priority 1– Develop and grow the DATABASE: more effort to

gather data (and to develop robust standards for data) and reduce dependence on modelling. Concern over robustness of modelling.

• Research Priority 2– ECONOMICS: increase effort to develop

understanding of the economics of the industry at both a micro and a macro level, including how to develop a supply chain.

The Resultant Agenda- cont’d

• Research Priority 3– Series of tailored projects to deal with practical

ENGINEERING PROBLEMS: cost reduction and manufacturability of devices, O&M, grid integration, power conversion, ICT, noise, moorings issues. How to do this effectively, select projects?

Resultant Agenda-2

• Research Priority 4– INFRASTRUCTURE: get AMETS off the ground and

build the Beaufort Laboratory (‘test tanks’), get demonstration devices in the water

• Research Priority 5– ENVIRONMENT: need research into ecological

impact of arrays, closer ties to environmental researchers

Other Points

• Extensive effort in Ocean Energy R&D• Sub-scale at any point but complementary

(generally)• Needs ‘tying’ together e.g. SFI SRC?• Division of effort between Third Level,

Agencies and Industry probably normal for this stage of technology

• Further reflection, final report shortly

Follow up

• Contact

Peter D Coyle chairman@mria.ie

• Website for MRIA and all reports, etc

www.mria.ie