Leading the consortium is Nova Innovation, a tidal energy technology developer headquartered in Edinburgh (Scotland) which made history in 2016 with the installation of the world’s first grid-connected tidal array–The Shetland Tidal Array (STA). Two years later, they integrated Tesla battery technology with the Array to deliver the world’s first baseload tidal power station, which is fully operational and delivering power to local homes and businesses in Shetland.

Nova’s M100 and RE50 turbines are the test devices for the ELEMENT system and will show-case design and performance gains during the project. Nova is responsible for managing the project (Work Package 1), designing the ELEMENT control system (WP 5), building the prototype (WP 7), as well as leading on tow testing and offshore testing (WPs 9 and 10).

The University of Strathclyde,, based in Glasgow, Scotland, is leading the development of the behavioural modelling technology at the heart of ELEMENT. The team comprises cutting-edge researchers working in the fields of electrical engineering, naval architecture and marine engineering departments: Dr Alasdair McDonald, Dr Hong Yue and Dr Gregory Payne.

The team leads on disseminating findings to the academic community (WP 2) and developing the advanced behavioural model for ELEMENT (WP 6), as well as providing insights from control system modelling work to the system design and advising on test analysis results.

IDETA is a regional development agency in Wallonia, Belgium, which invests in and supports clean energy projects and infrastructure development. The team, led by Olivier Bontems, will conduct the socio-economic impact reporting and analysis for the project (WP 12), as well as advising on commercial market and business strategy.

The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult was established in 2013 by the UK Government and is part of a network of Catapults set up by Innovate UK in high growth industries. It is the UK’s leading innovation centre for offshore renewable energy. Independent and trusted, with a unique combination of world-leading test and demonstration facilities and engineering and research expertise, ORE Catapult convenes the sector and delivers applied research, accelerating technology development, reducing risk and cost and enhancing UK-wide economic growth.

ORE Catapult leads on communication and dissemination of results (WP 2) and onshore testing of ELEMENT at the National Renewable Energy Centre (WP 8), as well as providing engineering expertise on the model design, assisting in estuary testing and advising on financial and market analysis.

Established in 2012, France Energies Marines (FEM) is the National Institute for Energy Transition dedicated to supporting the global offshore renewable energy sector. Its multi-disciplinary team work across four thematic areas: site characterisation, technology design, environmental integration and wind farm operational optimisation.

FEM leads on environmental impact assessment (WP 4) and communication and dissemination activities in France.

Wood‘s clean energy business specialises in renewable energy and grid integration, providing engineering and technical advisory services that support the delivery of projects around the world. Wood’s market-leading services and technologies provide engineering know-how to onshore and offshore wind, solar, wave and tidal and hydro projects.

Wood leads WP3, setting the commercialisation strategy for ELEMENT and providing independent verification of the system, as well as advising on testing methodology.

Headquartered in Nantes, France, INNOSEA provides professional engineering consultancy and services to the offshore renewable energy sector. INNOSEA is a proud subsidiary of the LOC Group, the premier independent maritime and engineering consultancy firm.

INNOSEA will contribute to the basic model design and implementation, support testing with procurement and best practice and advise on result analysis.

DNV GL is the leading certification body in wind, wave and tidal energy. Heavily based on research and innovation activities around the world, the company consolidates its knowledge into state-of-the-art standard and guidelines supporting the development of the industry.

The organisation will advise on certification and standards, provide insights into model design, and assist with interpretation of findings.

Chantier Bretagne-Sud (CBS) will host and manage the estuary testing stage of the ELEMENT project at its shipyard and marine manufacturing facilities in Brittany, France. The CBS team will also build the testing infrastructure, assist with design of test procedures and advise on materials, procurement and site practicalities.

Nortek designs, develops and produces scientific instruments for acoustic measurement of water in motion from their base in the city of Rud, Norway. They will develop the sensory technologies for the ELEMENT control system, as well as supplying the acoustic measurement equipment (ADCP), assisting with system integration and data analysis.

ABB is a pioneering technology leader with a comprehensive offering for digital industries. With a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB is today a leader in digital industries with four customer-focused, globally leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, supported by its common ABB Ability™ digital platform.

ABB is supplying the power electronics equipment to ELEMENT and will provide advice on system design.