Flexible rubber membrane for Symphony – a variable-volume submerged point-absorber (illustration: Symphony)

Trelleborg’s engineered products operation has supplied a bespoke, flexible rubber membrane to WETFEET, a EUR 3.46 million, 3-year research and development project designed to foster the exploitation of ocean wave energy.

Funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program, the WETFEET project, which has brought together 12 partners spanning six EU countries, aims to address a number of the major constraints that have delayed the sector’s progress to date and develop innovative technology solutions for use in wave energy devices.

José Cândido, Head of Economy & Industry at WavEC Offshore Renewables, the company leading the project, says, “Wave energy has enormous potential to fulfil part of the global demand for a clean, safe and sustainable energy source and as a result, contribute to the creation of jobs across not only the EU but worldwide. In recent years however, wave energy research has revealed a number of challenges such as the reliability of technical components, high development costs and risks, as well as industrial scalability of proposed and tested technologies.”

“WETFEET was set up to address these issues and pull together a team focussed on developing viable components, systems and processes to help fulfil wave energy’s potential,” continues Cândido.

To date, the project has seen the development of a set of breakthrough technology solutions integrated into two wave energy converters, a floating oscillating water column and Symphony, a variable-volume submerged point-absorber.

Jacco Vonk, Marketing & Business Development Manager for Trelleborg’s engineered products operation, says, “We are delighted to be working with the WETFEET project. Using our experience and insights in supplying high performance polymer solutions to the offshore wind energy sector, we have developed a bespoke flexible rubber membrane for Symphony to drive forward innovation in the wave power category.”

“Our polymer membrane technology ensures that the membrane not only acts as seal to protect internal components from external water pressure, but as a bearing to prevent the hull and compensation tank from colliding. Both of which ensure a best-in-class submerged pressure differential device in a smaller geometry, helping to reduce concerns around the cost of Symphony’s development,” adds Vonk.

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