Efficiently unlocking full-scale WEC dynamics for industry cost reduction. This project will reduce the cost of ocean wave energy, by uniting leading expertise from academia with cutting-edge know-how and full-scale data from industry to advance the way oceanic forces on wave energy converters are represented in industry models. These models are critical for designing and controlling the next generation of wave energy converters, which have larger motions than ever before. Carefully tested model ....Efficiently unlocking full-scale WEC dynamics for industry cost reduction. This project will reduce the cost of ocean wave energy, by uniting leading expertise from academia with cutting-edge know-how and full-scale data from industry to advance the way oceanic forces on wave energy converters are represented in industry models. These models are critical for designing and controlling the next generation of wave energy converters, which have larger motions than ever before. Carefully tested models will lead to better estimates of power production and loads, which will drive down the cost of wave energy and enable its large-scale utilisation. Broad communication of benefits and sharing of new knowledge will accelerate commercialisation of ocean energy in Australia and pave the way to meeting our future energy needs.Read moreRead less
High quality benthic and demersal surveys from small form factor underwater robots. This project will develop improved surveying systems for environmental consultancies. By enhancing the imaging and mapping capabilities of small underwater robots and extending automated interpretation tools to work with their data, this project will reduce operating costs, and increase the quality and quantity of scientifically useful data that they generate.
Development of an adaptive statistical model for oceanic flooding hazards along the East Australian coast. Planning of invaluable coastal infrastructure and housing is critical to the economic and social well-being of Australian communities. Devastating flooding along coasts and estuaries in Australia frequently occurred before 1980, but has been less common since. However, the risks are clear and enormous as demonstrated in recent disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami ....Development of an adaptive statistical model for oceanic flooding hazards along the East Australian coast. Planning of invaluable coastal infrastructure and housing is critical to the economic and social well-being of Australian communities. Devastating flooding along coasts and estuaries in Australia frequently occurred before 1980, but has been less common since. However, the risks are clear and enormous as demonstrated in recent disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. Climate change makes flood predictions even more difficult. This project will develop a new adaptive model which accounts for both the present and future climate and also regional variability. The research will be in collaboration with the NSW Dept of Climate Change to enable rapid government action to improve community trust in flood protection. Read moreRead less
Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. This project aims to understand the environmental impact of turbines, by studying how an optimised array of turbines interacts with the downstream turbulent tidal flow. Tidal power could contribute substantially to Australia's Renewable Energy goals. Australia's coastlines produce over 2.4 terajoules of tidal energy, and research into turbine optimisation, array design and environmental impact is ne ....Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. This project aims to understand the environmental impact of turbines, by studying how an optimised array of turbines interacts with the downstream turbulent tidal flow. Tidal power could contribute substantially to Australia's Renewable Energy goals. Australia's coastlines produce over 2.4 terajoules of tidal energy, and research into turbine optimisation, array design and environmental impact is needed to exploit this potential. Fluid dynamics and optimisation researchers will design an improved vertical axis tidal turbine for use in the Torres Strait Islands. This project could improve tidal turbine design and turbine placement designs, and improve understanding of interactions between turbines and the maritime environment.Read moreRead less
The future of shipping: achieving autonomous navigation. This project aims to develop autonomous decision systems and onshore control stations to support the design and operation of unmanned cargo ships. Blending observations, numerical models, virtual reality and machine learning, the project will develop algorithms for unsupervised navigation and embed these in an advanced ship simulator platform capable of responding to environmental conditions and optimising sea freight transport capabilitie ....The future of shipping: achieving autonomous navigation. This project aims to develop autonomous decision systems and onshore control stations to support the design and operation of unmanned cargo ships. Blending observations, numerical models, virtual reality and machine learning, the project will develop algorithms for unsupervised navigation and embed these in an advanced ship simulator platform capable of responding to environmental conditions and optimising sea freight transport capabilities. The expected outcomes will enable the integration of automated controls in ships, including remote-control capabilities. This will support Australia’s transition towards an autonomous shipping industry, delivering greater reliability, efficiency, productivity and safety.Read moreRead less
Autonomous repeatable surveys for long term monitoring of marine habitats. Australia has committed to using marine resources in a sustainable manner and to conserve the biodiversity of its marine habitats. In order to manage its marine environment effectively, marine scientists, managers and policy makers require timely and accurate information on the state of the environment. Current knowledge and techniques are limited and will have difficulty scaling to satisfy Australia's needs. A monitorin ....Autonomous repeatable surveys for long term monitoring of marine habitats. Australia has committed to using marine resources in a sustainable manner and to conserve the biodiversity of its marine habitats. In order to manage its marine environment effectively, marine scientists, managers and policy makers require timely and accurate information on the state of the environment. Current knowledge and techniques are limited and will have difficulty scaling to satisfy Australia's needs. A monitoring system that relies on machines to perform a substantial fraction of survey work and basic data analysis can scale more easily and provide more information at lower costs. Read moreRead less
Performance and design optimisation of oscillating water column ocean wave energy converters. This project will develop an optimised design for ocean wave energy extraction devices, known as oscillating water columns. This will significantly reduce energy conversion losses from oscillating water columns and contribute towards making them internationally competitive with other renewable energy technologies.
Oscillating water column efficiency improvement through impedance matching and active latching control techniques. The coastline of southern Australia is recognised as a world-class wave energy resource. This project will play a crucial role in seeing this resource exploited whilst simultaneously keeping Australia at the forefront of wave energy technology. Specifically, this project will develop a high-efficiency turbine technology for wave
energy.
Optimising artificial reef structures for nature-based coastal protection . This project aims to develop a novel framework for predicting how artificial reef structures can be optimally designed to protect coastlines from erosion and flooding. It will develop new theory and models to quantify how waves interact with complex reef structures to reduce wave heights and extreme water levels at the shoreline. Expected outcomes include new practical tools and design guidelines that can be adopted by c ....Optimising artificial reef structures for nature-based coastal protection . This project aims to develop a novel framework for predicting how artificial reef structures can be optimally designed to protect coastlines from erosion and flooding. It will develop new theory and models to quantify how waves interact with complex reef structures to reduce wave heights and extreme water levels at the shoreline. Expected outcomes include new practical tools and design guidelines that can be adopted by coastal engineers and managers to maximise coastal protection by reefs. This will boost Australia’s capacity to protect populations and critical infrastructure from coastal hazards and support Australian industries to lead the international development of innovative nature-based coastal protection strategies.Read moreRead less
Novel wave energy foundation solutions to survive extreme loads. This project aims to develop an economic and efficient anchoring system for taut-moored wave energy converters to enable us to exploit sustainable wave energy resources. Australia’s potential near-shore wave energy resource is four times larger than the current total capacity of our installed power generation. But the development of ocean wave energy is presently hampered by expensive, traditional anchoring systems. Using better es ....Novel wave energy foundation solutions to survive extreme loads. This project aims to develop an economic and efficient anchoring system for taut-moored wave energy converters to enable us to exploit sustainable wave energy resources. Australia’s potential near-shore wave energy resource is four times larger than the current total capacity of our installed power generation. But the development of ocean wave energy is presently hampered by expensive, traditional anchoring systems. Using better estimation of extreme loads, the project will use multidisciplinary approaches to investigate unique anchoring concepts with the aim of developing novel strategies to avoid the most extreme loads and enabling optimum anchor design. The outcomes of the project are intended to help to deliver economically viable wave energy projects.Read moreRead less