Wave Energy Scotland is making up to £47,000 (excluding VAT) available for businesses to develop advanced control systems for use in wave energy generation.

The funding call is for feasibility study proposals - the first of 3 stages in the Wave Energy Scotland (WES) control systems programme.

Up to 100% of project costs are available via a research and development contract. WES will invest further funding in successful projects which progress to design, development and demonstration stages.

Advanced control systems have the potential to play a vital role in the development of cost-effective wave energy generation technology.

WES is aiming to support collaboration between academia, industry, wave energy specialists and new entrants in this competition. There are relevant technology transfer opportunities in many industrial sectors including:

• robotics
• mechatronics
• electrical engineering
• aerospace
• automotive
• mining
• offshore and sub-sea vessel stability and manoeuvring

The competition opened on Wednesday 5 April 2017 and there will be a webinar for potential applicants on Thursday 13 April 2017 (registration required).

Individual companies can apply, but smaller businesses are expected to prefer to form a consortium for their bid. There will also be a brokerage event in Edinburgh on Friday 12 May 2017 (registration required) to help businesses find partners.

Applications must be submitted before midday on Monday 12 June 2017.

Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, said: 

“I am delighted the Scottish Government’s funding of this innovative programme is allowing Wave Energy Scotland to issue a fourth call for controls systems, the last essential component for wave energy converters. This call will draw power take-off, novel wave energy converters and materials projects together and start the integration process to create devices that will be ready for testing at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney in the future.”

“The call offers a superb opportunity to engage with other sectors to facilitate knowledge transfer. We have every expectation that this experience and knowledge already exists in Scotland. This approach gives Scotland the best chance to find a resolution to the challenges which have been present in the wave energy industry.”

Tim Hurst, Managing Director, Wave Energy Scotland said: “This call for Control Systems offers us a further opportunity to make connections with a new selection of companies. There is every possibility that suitable systems already exist in other sectors, and we would like to encourage applications from these technology developers. Companies who join WES at stage 1 will have access to considerable funding for concepts at later stages if they are successful in passing the stage-gate evaluations within our programme.”

Applications for this call must be made through Public Contracts Scotland (PCS). Interested parties must register with Public Contracts Scotland where, once they have recorded an interest in the Call, they will be able to download the call documentation, ask questions and upload their applications.

The Webinar will provide potential applicants with an opportunity to hear about WES, the call itself and to ask questions of the team.  Potential applicants will have the opportunity to meet members of the Scottish industry and investigate new partnerships or collaborations at the Brokerage Event.

Register here for the Brokerage Event.

Click here for more information.