Wedoany.com Report-Jul. 6, A Chilean research team has completed scale model testing of the Lafquenewen wave energy converter (WEC) at the FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility at the University of Edinburgh. This milestone supports the development of marine energy solutions for deployment off the coast of Lebu, Chile.

The testing was conducted through a collaboration involving the Austral University of Chile (UACH), the University of Edinburgh, and RWTH Aachen University. The initiative, led by the GROW-E research group at the University of Bío-Bío (UBB), aimed to strengthen international partnerships to advance marine energy technology in Chile. The tests focused on refining the design and performance of the Lafquenewen WEC, a device developed to harness ocean wave energy.

“This experience gave us the opportunity to work in a world-class facility and engage with experts in marine energy technologies. One of the key milestones was conducting experiments in the circular wave tank at FloWave, where we tested a scale model of the Lafquenewen Wave Energy Converter, developed by the GROW-E research group at the Universidad del Bío-Bío. These tests provided valuable insights for the upcoming deployment of the device on the coast of Lebu, Chile,” said Danilo Pastrana Mendoza from the University of Bío-Bío.

The research team expressed gratitude to Thomas Davey for providing access to the FloWave facility and to Shaun Fraser and Martyn Lennon for their technical support during the testing phase. “A special thanks as well to Fabian Gonzalo Pierart Vasquez for trusting us and including us in this remarkable project, which highlights the importance of international cooperation and technological development in advancing clean energy solutions for Chile,” Mendoza added.

The GROW-E team, based in UBB’s Mechanical Engineering Department, focuses on developing control systems, mechanical components, and manufacturing techniques for wave energy converters. Earlier in February, the team completed hydrodynamic tests on a WEC as part of the same international academic collaboration.

This project underscores Chile’s commitment to advancing renewable energy through innovative marine technologies. The successful testing at FloWave provides critical data to support the planned deployment of the Lafquenewen WEC, contributing to sustainable energy solutions and fostering global cooperation in clean energy development.