TiPA

Tidal Turbine Power Take-Off Accelerator

​​The TiPA  project aimed at increasing the performance and reliability of ocean energy subsystems, thanks to the design, building and testing of an innovative Direct Drive Power Take-Off (PTO) solution for tidal turbines. The PTO subsystem is a component, which converts the mechanical power in the tidal turbine rotor into electricity that is exported into the grid. 
The consortium's aim is to reduce the lifetime cost of tidal power by 20%, demonstrated by accelerated life testing of a next-generation tidal turbine PTO solution. Project outputs will be independently verified and will enable:

• Improved performance: 20% lifetime cost of energy improvement over a conventional PTO;
• Improved reliability: extending service intervals from less than 1 year to over 2 years;
• Verified survivability: PTO design lifetime greater than 20 years;
  

The results will be disseminated and exploited to maximize the benefit of this project to the ocean energy sector, and to raise investor and market confidence in the emerging tidal energy industry.
In order to verify the technology, accelerated onshore and in-sea testing of a prototype PTO will be conducted, as well as a third party validation of the design and test results. In parallel the consortium will develop a commercialization strategy for selling and licensing the product to tidal energy developers, and explore potential uses outside the tidal sector, such as wave power and marine propulsion. 

For more information about the project, see the project website tipa-h2020.eu and the project results on CORDIS. 
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Picture courtesy of Nova Innovation

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 727793.