Project ForeWave aimed at developing a set of methodologies to provide high quality inputs for several type of control methodology. These methodologies are based on the device motions and states alone. Providing better methodologies to generate the inputs required by all type of control methodology will benefit the WEC industry as a whole.

For most WECs, control laws parameters can be mapped with respect to the average incident sea state (Hs, Te, others), therefore a reliable real-time sea state estimation with no need to rely on external wave measurement or forecast will be beneficial for all WECs. Such methodology will also be able to integrate the estimation the reflection of waves in array deployment into the estimation.

Additionally, WEC performance could be greatly enhanced if short term wave force were available.
The project was divided in two main parts, the first addresses sea state estimation, by linking the device motion parameters to the sea main parameters, whereas the second part focused more on the estimation and prediction of wave forces via real time dynamic modelling.

Benefits expected from such techniques are mainly for WEC developers, who will be able to obtain the present wave state as an input for their device and reduce therefore the WEC development cost. Additionally, by obtaining the wave force prediction it will be possible to implement a series of high performance control logics maximising the energy yield of the WEC single device and farm.

Innosea presented a poster on their Stage 1 Control Systems project at the 2017 WES Annual Conference. All Stage 1 Control System posters are available to download here.