VATTS Project
COMBING BATTERY STORAGE AND TIDAL ENERGY
Joulen helped to demonstrate the power of battery storage and the unique Vertical Axis Tidal Turbines. Aiming to unlock a largely untapped renewable energy resource and targeting a huge market opportunity. Joining forces with Queen’s University Belfast, G Kinetic and GES Group.
Partners
Solution
The project consortium being led by Queen’s University Belfast, brings together 3 key industry partners; GKinetic Energy who have developed the hydrokinetic turbines, Grant’s Electrical Services (GES) who will lead the development of a battery solution and Joulen, experts in maximising the value of final power delivery and sale of electricity to end users.
The project valued at a total of £490,143 has been supported by the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE, https://www.case-research.net/). CASE is funded through Invest NI’s Competence Centre Programme and aims to transform the sustainable energy sector through business research.
“CASE is delighted to support this tidal energy project and the associated G-Kinetic device testing, led by Queen’s University Belfast in Strangford Lough,Northern Ireland. VATTS involves the integration of the tidal energy device with energy storage technology from GES and increased flexibility of power delivery from Joulen. Innovation in renewable energy system integration is vital for the long-term decarbonisation of energy. CASE continues to support projects such as this in marine renewables, along with others in energy systems and bio-energy. To date we have funded c.£2m of marine renewable energy research, in support of the Northern Ireland economy.”
Dr. Carwyn Frost. Lecturer in marine research group at Queen’s University Belfast
The project will explore ways to tie together the latest energy storage technologies and end user demand profiles, developing a framework for specifying an integrated system to provide an affordable, zero carbon alternative for baseload electricity directly to end users.
A hydrokinetic turbine with integrated energy storage could harvest energy at a site and return to a port or connection point to deliver to the network in an adaptable manner, e.g. deliver to a variety of remote users such as the marine aquaculture sector or offshore charging stations.
“Joulen will be looking at the various options for how the energy is then integrated into existing networks to deliver the highest value solution to end users. Using data generated from the tidal demonstration, Joulen will apply its ‘Predictive Analytical Renewable Integration System’ (PARIS) to maximise the value of the power generated for both the producer and the consumer of the power.”
Anne Marie McGoldrick. Director, Joulen
Environmental assessment will be a key aspect of the project along with accessing power curves. Queen’s University Belfast will manage the site and dedicate two Post-doctoral Research Assistants (PRDAs), 1 for the duration of the 24 month project and another for 18 months. Queen’s University and Strangford Narrows have a long association with tidal energy. At Strangford, project partners will be able to assess Sea Mammals behaviour and impact on other saltwater marine life.
Deployment of the two turbines is scheduled for later this year and Queen’s University Belfast currently has an open call for the first full time PRDA position.
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