The SHY Project continues its series of interviews with project partners, highlighting the people and expertise behind the development of innovative solutions for wave energy. In this interview, John Ringwood, Director of the Centre for Ocean Energy Research at Maynooth University, explains the role of his team in the project and the importance of control systems for improving the performance of wave energy devices.
Maynooth University participates in SHY as a research provider, with a strong focus on control systems for wave energy technologies. Within the project, its main role is to develop control technology for the Wavepiston wave energy device. The team involved includes John Ringwood, Colm and Eugenio, who together bring extensive experience in ocean energy research and international collaboration.
One of the main objectives of their work is to make the Wavepiston device operate more efficiently, enabling it to capture more energy from waves. However, the project goes beyond maximizing energy capture alone. A key ambition is to reduce the levelized cost of energy of wave energy, supporting the development of more competitive and reliable renewable energy technologies.
In the interview, John Ringwood explains that the numerical model is the foundation on which the control technology is built. While wave energy research has traditionally focused on maximizing energy capture, SHY takes a more balanced approach. The project considers both the energy converted by the device and the effects that control actions may have on its lifetime. This means that the control strategy aims to find an optimal balance between energy production and long-term device durability.
The dynamic passive control strategy developed within SHY also represents an important technical challenge. Although the approach may simplify certain aspects of implementation, it also makes the control problem more complex. This balance between practical implementation and advanced control performance is one of the key areas being addressed by the project partners.
Collaboration between teams and countries is another important aspect of SHY. According to John Ringwood, the partners are experienced in working within international consortia and make use of online collaboration tools, regular biweekly meetings, conferences and formal project meetings such as the General Assembly to ensure effective coordination.
The interview also highlights the importance of model calibration. Maynooth University validates simplified and usable numerical models through tank testing and comparison with high-fidelity numerical models. This ensures that the models used to develop the control technology are accurate representations of the real system.
Through this work, SHY aims to contribute to the future of ocean energy by improving the efficiency, reliability and cost-effectiveness of wave energy converters, while providing valuable results that may inspire and support other developers in the sector.
Watch the full interview below to learn more about Maynooth University’s role in the SHY Project and the development of dynamic passive control strategies for wave energy.