The long-term project will analyse existing and developmental coating products to assess their suitability for applications within the marine renewables industry, as well as for other offshore industries such as offshore wind, and oil and gas. The initial stages of the project has involved testing of coated panels and bolts by Whitford in Stromness Harbour on the side of the pier. This surface provides a good representation of a ‘splash zone’, being intermittently exposed to air and immersed in the sea, thus subjecting the panels to a range of wet and dry conditions in line with the ebb and flow of the tide.
“As the leading test site globally within the marine renewable energy sector, EMEC is an excellent partner for us to work with on this project” said Gareth Berry, Renewable Energy Manager at Whitford. “With some of the harshest wave and tidal conditions in the world, EMEC provides the perfect location in which to test the performance of Whitford’s coatings in dynamic and volatile environments. We’ll be exposing the coatings at different locations and for different periods of time to assess their durability. The pier provides an easily accessible location which can be easily reached and regularly monitored for the initial stages of this project”.
Neil Kermode, EMEC’s Managing Director, added that effective coatings are vital to ensure wave and tidal energy devices survive and continue to work whilst at sea. Experience shows how unprotected materials suffer and how effective protection makes marine energy possible. EMEC has found that the performance of the Whitford coatings thus far has been remarkable.
A panel that has completed its initial tests at EMEC will be available to view on EMEC’s stand (No. 95) at the International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE) this week – 23rd-25th February 2016.
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