The WAVEGEM hybrid platform, developed by Geps Techno and its partners within the framework of the IHES project, was launched in Saint Nazaire Port on 6th December 2018, and inaugurated and christened on 18 December 2018. It will be installed on the Centrale Nantes SEM-REV offshore test site in early 2019.
With the support of
IHES Project
The IHES project was initiated in 2015 by Geps Techno, a company located in the Pays de la Loire region, based on its own technology for harvesting wave energy from floating structures. The project has two components:
- The development of a ship stabilization system with energy recovery, the prototype for which has been on board Ifremer’s Thalassa ship since September 2016.
- The development and demonstration of an autonomous platform, called WAVEGEM, and the production of a prototype measuring 21m x 14m and 7m high, with installed capacity of 150 kW. Testing will be carried out at sea, on the Centrale Nantes SEM-REV site: the French multi-technology test site off the coast from Le Croisic.
The prototype was developed by a consortium of partners: Geps Techno, IFREMER, Centrale Nantes, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Blue Solutions, SNEF and ICAM.
WAVEGEM PLATFORM
The WAVEGEM platform is used to demonstrate the technology under operational conditions and to develop design tools, particularly numerical models that will optimize tomorrow’s products. Innovation is present throughout programme: hybrid energy storage (batteries and supercapacitors), controlled stabilization, regulation without mechanical sensors etc.
WAVEGEM was therefore launched and inaugurated prior to commencing 18 months of sea trials on the Centrale Nantes SEM-REV multi-technology test site in early 2019. It will be secured on site with a four-point synthetic line mooring system. This new technology will join the floating wind turbine FLOATGEN, present on site since spring 2018.
IHES was one of the projects selected in the first FORESEA call for projects. FORESEA is a European funding programme, which helps bring offshore renewable energy technologies to market by providing access to offshore test sites.