Testing Marine Renewable Energy Devices in an Advanced Multi-Directional Combined Wave-Current Environment

Abstract

Physical scale model testing is an important development tool, used extensively to study the behaviour of marine devices, vessels and structures in a controlled environment prior to deployment at sea. Whilst specific guidance on developing and testing marine renewable energy devices has been published over the past decade, it has limitations in terms of advanced environmental conditions for testing. The body of existing guidance is reviewed, and initial suggestions offered for additional test conditions that may be considered in later stages of model testing. This focuses on testing in combined waves and currents, particularly the multi-directional aspect thereof, which is now possible in facilities such as FloWave.