The global wave and tidal energy market is rapidly evolving, which is why companies worldwide are investing in research and development to expand the commercial usage of wave and tidal energy harnessing equipment. The global wave and tidal market are driven by a growing emphasis on the production of cleaner power generation technologies with lower environmental impact.
Establishing a wave or tidal energy power operation can be very expensive, making it a much bigger project than solar or wind farms. Hence, it essential to safeguarding this kind of investment. So, drones will soon be able to help scientists discover the perfect locations for future tidal energy projects.
Measurement of water flow speed and movement is “vital” for the production of offshore renewables, according to Benjamin Williamson, a scientist at North Highlands College UHI’s Environmental Research Institute.
The collected data will be fed into algorithms that will calculate the speed of water and enable developers to pinpoint ideal locations for underwater tidal turbines, potentially lowering costs and opening doors for developing countries.
Cost Effective Tidal Energy Projects
In the Pentland Firth in Scotland and the Ramsey Sound in Wales, scientists intend to conduct experiments in a variety of weather conditions.
“Measuring the flow speed and movement of water is vital for developing offshore renewable energy. These measurements are needed to predict the performance and inform the placement of underwater tidal stream turbines or to optimise the moorings and design of floating turbines,” said Williamson.
“However, gathering these measurements is typically high-cost and high-risk,” he added.
Williamson said the aerial technique that he and his colleagues came up with is “a cost-effective way to support the environmentally sustainable development of renewable energy.”
“We hope to help address the climate emergency by advancing our ability to generate reliable, clean energy,” Williamson concurred.
Marine technologies have “great potential,” according to the International Energy Agency. Still, more policy support is needed for research, design, and development in order to “enable the cost reductions that come with the commissioning of larger commercial plants.”
