A new competition has been launched to develop advanced control systems for wave energy generation technology.

Wave Energy Scotland (WES) has issued its fourth funding call for the Control Systems programme, with up to £47,000 available for organisations to produce feasibility study proposals.

Up to 100% of project costs, via a contract for research and development services, are available under the call.

WES aims to support collaboration between academia, industry, wave energy specialists and new entrants in this competition. Relevant industrial sectors include;

• robotics

• mechatronics

• electrical engineering

• aerospace

• automotive

• mining

• offshore and sub-sea vessel stability and manoeuvring


Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: "I am delighted the Scottish Government's funding of this innovative programme is allowing Wave Energy Scotland to issue a fourth call for controls systems, the last essential component for wave energy converters. This call will draw power take-off, novel wave energy converters and materials projects together and start the integration process to create devices that will be ready for testing at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney in the future.

"The call offers a superb opportunity to engage with other sectors to facilitate knowledge transfer. We have every expectation that this experience and knowledge already exists in Scotland. This approach gives Scotland the best chance to find a resolution to the challenges which have been present in the wave energy industry."

Tim Hurst, Managing Director of WES, said: "This call for Control Systems offers us a further opportunity to make connections with a new selection of companies. There is every possibility that suitable systems already exist in other sectors, and we would like to encourage applications from these technology developers. Companies who join WES at stage 1 will have access to considerable funding for concepts at later stages if they are successful in passing the stage-gate evaluations within our programme."

The deadline for applications is before midday on Monday, 12 June 2017.

(LM)